Changing Family Patterns : Parents And Children Flashcards
What are the recent trends with childbearing ?
Nearly half of all children are all now born outside of marriage but both parents register suggesting they are cohabiting. Women are having children later. Women are having fewer children.
What are the reasons for the changes in childbearing ?
Reasons for the increase in births outside of marriage is because of the declining stigma and increase I cohabitation (only 28% of 25-34 year olds think marriage should come before parenthood). The reasons for the smaller family sizes and later age they’re having children is because women are wanting to become more established in their careers.
What are the trends for lone-parent families ?
Lone-parent families now make up 22% of all families with children. One child in four lives in a lone parent family. Over 90% of these parents are headed by lone mothers.
What are the reasons for the increase in lone parent families ?
Their has been an increase due to the increase in divorce and separation and more recently due to the increase in the number of never married women having children his is due to the declining stigma around having children outside of marriage. Lone parent families are normally headed by women due to them naturally being an expressive role and men are less likely to give up work for childcare. Cashmore founded that W/C mothers chose to live on their own due to experience domestic violence.
What do the New Right believe about the lone parenthood ?
New Right thinker Murray sees the growth of lone parenthood as a result from an over-generous welfare state for providing benefits for unmarried mothers and their children. It causes irresponsible behaviour to be rewarded such as having children knowing you can’t provide for them. The welfare state creates a dependency culture.
What are critics of the New Right view on the welfare state ?
They critic it by by saying that the welfare state is far from generous considering that lone parent families are much more likely to be in poverty. Reasons or this include : Lack of affordable childcare prevents lone parents from working (60% of them are unemployed). Inadequate welfare benefits. Most lone parents are women, who generally earn less than women.
What are the recent trends in stepfamilies ?
Stepfamilies account for 10% of all families with dependent children in Britain. In 85% of stepfamilies one child comes from the women’s previous relationship, while 11% is the child is from the man’s previous relationship.
What are the reasons for these patterns in the trends of stepfamilies ?
Stepfamilies re formed when lone parents form new partnerships. Thus the factors causing an increase in the number of lone parents such as divorce and separation are also responsible for the creation of stepfamilies. More children in stepfamilies come from the women’s previous relationships due to the fact that when partners separate the children more likely go into the women’s custody.
