Family patterns - Childbearing Flashcards
What actually is childbearing and child rearing?
child bearing = having a child
Child rearing - raising a child
What are the child bearing overall patterns?
- children are being had later
- many remaining childless
- having fewer children altogether
fertility rate uk (2024)
1.7 children
Average age for women to have children?
32
What is causing for women to remain childless?
- Not a need for a woman - own happiness more important
- individualism → ignoring traditional
- Not wanting to do it all day everyday
- Gut instinctive reaction
How does individualisaiton explain the childbearing patterns?
Individualisaiton is focusing on yoursel and womena re putting their career as a priority causing for them to have children later in life,
Reasons for the childbearing changes i patterns?
- individualisaiton - fewer / later in life
- reduced stigma
- changing role of women not just for children
- growth in child centredness
- children economic liabilities
How much % do long parent families make up in 2022?
15% of all households
How many more x likely are lone parent families to be in poverty?
2x
Reasons for the increase in lone parent families?
- increase in divorce
- increased children out of wedlock
Why are lone parent families most likely to be female headed?
- Belief that women by nature suited to the expressive nurturing role
- Courts give custody of children to mothers
- Men less willing to give up work and care for children
single by choice ( Renvoize)
Some professional women able to support children without father influence / involvement so choose tor emain single
What did Cashmore study find?
Found some wc mothers with less earning power chose to live on welfare benefits without a partner as they had experienced abuse. → feminists ideas and opportunities increase the number as well
What does new right thinker murray believe about lone parent mothers?
- sees growth of lone parent families as a resulting from an over- generous welfare state providing benefits for unmarried mothers and children
- Argues this has created a ‘perverse incentive’ that rewards irresponsible behaviour such as having children without being able to care / provide for them.
- Argues the welfare state creates this ‘dependency culture’ where people assume the state will support and care for them. → believes the solution is to abolish welfare benefits
Evaluation of Murray
Critics of the new right states welfare benefits are far from luxury as lone parent more likely to be in poverty
Due to :
* Lack of affordable childcare prevents working → 60% * lone parents don’t work
* Inadequate welfare benefits
* Most are women who generally earn less
* Failure of father to pay maintenance