Child-Bearing
Sociology: AQA A Level, topic 4.2.4
Changes in Child-Bearing
Over the past one-hundred years or so, families have been getting smaller.
Smaller families
- Over the past one-hundred years or so, families have been getting smaller due to:
- Women having fewer children.
- Delaying having children.
- Choosing to remain childless.
Reasons
- These changes have been caused by a number of factors including:
- The changing role and independence of women.
- The rising costs of raising a family.
- The growing individualisation.
Female careers
- Women now often place a greater priority on their career than they once did.
- This means that woman may delay having children until they have established themselves in the job market or may decide to concentrate on their career and forego have children entirely.
Cost
- The Centre for Economics and Business Research estimate that it now costs more then £200,000 to raise one child from birth until the age of 21, so many couples may decide that having children (or having more children) isn’t a financially sustainable option.
Individualisation
- More people are becoming reluctant to trade in their former life-choice options for the lifetime commitment involved in raising children.
The Rise in Births Outside Marriage
The number of births outside marriage in England and Wales has risen significantly since the early 1970’s.
Birth rates
- The number of births outside marriage has risen significantly since the early 1970’s.
- Now nearly half of all births in England and Wales are outside marriage and civil partnerships.
Explanation
- Reasons for this include:
- The reduction in social stigma.
- The changing position of women.
- Secularisation.
Test yourself on Child-Bearing
Which body estimated that it now costs more than £200,000 to raise one child from birth until the age of 21?
How many births are outside marriage and civil partnerships now in England and Wales?
Which of the following is NOT a reason for the increase in births outside marriage in England and Wales?