Demography

Question 1

Define ‘birth rate.’

Answer 1

The number of live births per thousand of the population per year.

Question 2

Define ‘total fertility rate (TFR).’

Answer 2

The average number of children women have during their fertile years (age 18-45).

Question 3

Why is the birth rate declining?

Answer 3

1. Children are an economic liability:
   
   • Due to laws surrounding child labour, children are no
     longer a financial asset to the family so parent started having less children.
2. Increase in ‘child-centeredness’:
   
   • Social expectation that parents should put time and
     effort into their children as well as spend more time and money on them.
3. Decrease in infant mortality rate:
   
   • NHS and research into health, treatment vaccinations ect = less children dying so less children are being born.
4. Changes in women’s position:
   
   • Laws: - Divorce Reform Act 1969 - Equal Pay Act 1970 - Sex Discrimination Act 1975 - Equality Act 2010 - Divorce Reform Act 1969

• Feminism:
  McRobbie Magazines and Sue Sharpe’s interviews.
  70s vs 90s social attitudes to woman’s roles.
• Girls success in education:
  • 1989 introduction of National Curriculum and GCSEs =
    women have more academic aspirations rather than
    those of having children and raising a family.

Question 4

Why is the death rate declining?

Answer 4

1. Improved nutrition
   
   • McKeowan (1972) improved nutrition accounted for up
     to half the reduction in death rates. Better nutrition
     increased resistance to infection.
2. Medical Improvements:
   
   • Vaccinations, antibiotics and improved treatment for
     infection and illnesses.
3. Smoking and Diet:
   
   • Better knowledge about the harms of smoking, drugs
     and poor diet has meant overall people are living
     healthier lives and dying less from illnesses caused by
     poor diet and smoking.
4. Public Health:
   
   • Better public health meant infection and diseases were
     prevented/reduced.
5. Other social changes:
   
   • Decline of dangerous manual occupations such as
     mining/early heavy industry.
   • Smaller families = reduced transmission of infection
   • Higher income = living a healthier lifestyle.

Question 5

What affects does an increased life expectancy/ageing population have on the population?

Answer 5

1. Public services:
   
   • Older people consume a larger proportion of services
     such as health and social care.
2. One pensioner households:
   
   • Typically more likely to be elderly women living on
     their own as women outlive men.
3. An imbalanced dependancy ratio:
   
   • “The relationship between the size of the working
     population versus the non-working population” –>
     This creates issues with tax and supporting the
     welfare state ect.

Question 6

What is the perspective on old age in modern society?

Answer 6

Ageism - the old are largely excluded from paid work, leaving them economically dependant on their families or the state.

The elderly are excluded from production by compulsory retirement and have a stigmatised identity.

Question 7

What is the postmodern perspective on old age in society?

Answer 7

Consumption forms our identity rather than production (did in modern society). The old become a market for ‘body maintenance’ and ‘rejuvenation’ goods and services/