demography Flashcards
what is birth rate?
the number of live births per thousand of the population per year
what were the three baby booms in the 20th century?
the first two came after the two world wars as returning soldiers and their partners began families
and the third was in the 1960s which the birth rate fell in the 1970s, rising again in the 1980s and falling in the 1990s and increasing onwards
what are some factors determining the total fertility rate?
the proportion of women who are childbearing age (15-44) and how fertile they are (how many children they have)
what is the total fertility rate? (TFR)
the average number of children women will have during fertile years
why is the total fertility rate decreasing?
more women are remaining childless or postponing to have children until they are older (average age of 30-40)
why is the change in women’s position a reason for decline in birth rate?
legal equality with men (rights to vote)
increased educational opportunities
more women in paid employment changes in attitudes to family life and a woman’s role
easier access to divorce
access to abortion and contraception (control)
what does Harper argue about change in a woman’s position?
education is the main reason for longterm fall in birth and fertility rates as it has led to a change in mindset among women, women now see other possibilities in life instead of traditional house wife roles
Harper also notes once low fertility lasts for one generation it starts to become the norm; therefore leading to smaller families are acceptable as large ones are seen as unacceptable
what is infant mortality rate?
infant mortality rate (IMR) measure the number of infants who die before their first birthday per thousand babies born alive per year
why is infant mortality rate a reason for decline in birth rate?
Harper argues that the fall in IMR leads to fall in birth rate because if many infants die, parents have more children to replace them which increases birth rate, having fewer babies
what are some examples and statistics of IMR?
in 1900, 15% of babies died before their first birthday
why did IMR begin to fall during the 20th century?
improved housing and better sanitation (flushable toilets and clean water which reduces diseases)
better nutrition
better knowledge of hygiene and child welfare
improved services (NHS, midwives and checkups)
before mid 20th century it was doubtful whether medical factors had much effect; however, from the 1950s, medical factors poached a larger role (flus, coughs, measles etc)
why is economic liability a reason for decline in birth rate?
in the past, children were economic assets to parents as they could be sent out to get jobs and gain an income
now there are laws banning child labour, introducing compulsory schooling
changing norms about what children have a right to
as a result of financial pressures, parents now feel less able to bring up more children
why is child centredness a reason for decline in birth rate?
childhood is now a social construct which is important in an individuals life
this has shifted the focus to quality over quantity as families focus on one or two children over a larger family, giving them more attention and resources
what are future trends in birth rate?
one reason for the slight increase in birth rates recently is the increase in immigration because on average outside the UK have a higher fertility rates
babies born to mothers outside the UK accounted for 25% of all births in 2011
what do the family have to do with changes in fertility?
smaller families means women are more likely to work creating a dual earner couple; however some couples with large families may be able to afford daycare
