Family patterns - Childbearing

Question 1

What actually is childbearing and child rearing?

Answer 1

child bearing = having a child
Child rearing - raising a child

Question 2

What are the child bearing overall patterns?

Answer 2

• children are being had later
• many remaining childless
• having fewer children altogether

Question 3

fertility rate uk (2024)

Answer 3

1.7 children

Question 4

Average age for women to have children?

Answer 4

32

Question 5

What is causing for women to remain childless?

Answer 5

• Not a need for a woman - own happiness more important
• individualism → ignoring traditional
• Not wanting to do it all day everyday
• Gut instinctive reaction

Question 6

How does individualisaiton explain the childbearing patterns?

Answer 6

Individualisaiton is focusing on yoursel and womena re putting their career as a priority causing for them to have children later in life,

Question 7

Reasons for the childbearing changes i patterns?

Answer 7

• individualisaiton - fewer / later in life
• reduced stigma
• changing role of women not just for children
• growth in child centredness
• children economic liabilities

Question 8

How much % do long parent families make up in 2022?

Answer 8

15% of all households

Question 9

How many more x likely are lone parent families to be in poverty?

Answer 9

2x

Question 10

Reasons for the increase in lone parent families?

Answer 10

• increase in divorce
• increased children out of wedlock

Question 11

Why are lone parent families most likely to be female headed?

Answer 11

• 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

Question 12

single by choice ( Renvoize)

Answer 12

Some professional women able to support children without father influence / involvement so choose tor emain single

Question 13

What did Cashmore study find?

Answer 13

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

Question 14

What does new right thinker murray believe about lone parent mothers?

Answer 14

• 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

Question 15

Evaluation of Murray

Answer 15

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