Demography Flashcards
(19 cards)
What is the birth rate?
The number of live births per 1,000 people in the population per year.
What is the fertility rate?
The average number of children a woman of childbearing age (15-44) is expected to have.
Why have birth and fertility rates declined in the UK?
Changes in women’s position, decline in infant mortality rate, children as economic liabilities, and rise in child-centeredness.
According to Harper (2012), what is the most significant factor influencing declining birth rates?
Women’s education, as educated women use family planning and delay childbirth for careers.
What is the infant mortality rate (IMR)?
The number of infants who die before their first birthday per 1,000 live births annually.
What factors contributed to the decline in IMR?
Improved housing, nutrition, healthcare, and public health measures.
How does child-centeredness influence family size?
Families prioritize the quality of children’s lives over quantity, leading to smaller family sizes.
What is the death rate?
The number of deaths per 1,000 people in the population per year.
What are McKeown’s (1972) findings on improved nutrition?
McKeown argues that better diets increased resistance to disease, contributing to the decline in death rates.
What public health measures helped reduce death rates?
Cleaner water, housing improvements, and acts like the Clean Air Act.
What is life expectancy?
The average number of years a person is expected to live, which has significantly increased in the UK.
How does Walker (2011) link life expectancy to social class?
Walker found that poorer individuals live seven years less on average compared to wealthier individuals.
What is an ageing population?
A demographic trend where the average age of the population increases, leading to a higher proportion of elderly people.
What causes an ageing population?
Increased life expectancy, declining birth rates, and lower infant mortality rates.
What are Hirsch’s (2005) suggestions for addressing the ageing population?
Policies like raising the retirement age, promoting smaller housing for elderly people, and encouraging savings.
What are the effects of an ageing population on public services?
Increased demand for health and social care, more one-person pensioner households, and a higher dependency ratio.
What is ageism?
Negative stereotyping or discrimination based on age, often tied to the economic dependency of older people.
How do modernists view old age?
Modernists argue that old age is stigmatized due to its lack of economic value in capitalist society.
How do postmodernists view ageing?
Postmodernists believe age no longer defines identity, as individuals construct their identities through consumption and lifestyle choices, like using anti-ageing products.
