F&H: Demography

Question 1

define what’s meant by ‘birth rate’

Answer 1

The number of live births per 1000 of the population per year.

This metric helps assess population growth.

Question 2

Define fertility rate.

Answer 2

The average number of children per adult woman during her fertile (15-44) years.

This differs from the completed family size, which measures the average number of children for a woman born in a particular year.

Question 3

What does the infant mortality rate measure?

Answer 3

The number of deaths of children under the age of 1 per 1000 live births per year.

This rate is crucial for understanding healthcare quality and child welfare.

Question 4

What is the mortality rate?

Answer 4

The number of deaths per 1000 of the population per year.

It is also known as the death rate.

Question 5

How is net migration calculated?

Answer 5

The number of people moving into a country minus the number of people moving away.

This statistic is important for understanding demographic changes.

Question 6

What is life expectancy?

Answer 6

The average length of time someone today is expected to live; the average age a newborn baby born today would reach, assuming mortality rates remain the same as they are now.

Life expectancy can reflect the overall health and living conditions of a population.

Question 7

What was the birth rate in 1900?

Answer 7

28.7

Question 8

Was the birth rate in 2014 higher or lower than in 1900?

Answer 8

Lower

Birth rate in 2014 was 12.2

Question 9

What was the birth rate in 2024 compared to 2023?

Answer 9

Lower → 11.171 (a 0.85% decline from 2023)

Question 10

What were the birth rates in 2021 and 2022?

Answer 10

11.377 (2021), 11.322 (2022)

Question 11

Was the birth rate higher or lower after 1914-1918 and 1939-1945 than the years preceding them?

Answer 11

Higher → 20.7 in 1947

Question 12

What is the reason for the higher birth rate after 1914-1918 and 1939-1945?

Answer 12

Baby boomers

Question 13

Was the birth rate in the 1960s higher or lower than the years preceding it?

Answer 13

Higher → the third baby boom

Question 14

What was the reason for the higher birth rate in the 1960s?

Answer 14

Third baby boom

Question 15

Was the birth rate in the 1970s higher or lower than in the 1960s?

Answer 15

Lower

Question 16

What factors contributed to the lower birth rate in the 1970s?

Answer 16

Economic instability and the introduction of the Abortion Act 1967

Question 17

define the term ‘death rate’

Answer 17

the number of deaths per 1000 of the population per year

Question 18

Who argues that the traditional age ‘pyramid’ is disappearing?
A) Postman
B) Oakley
C) Hirsch

Answer 18

C) hirsch

Question 19

what does hirsch argue regarding the traditional age ‘pyramid’

Answer 19

that the traditional age ‘pyramid’ is disappearing and being replaced by more or less equal sized ‘blocks’ representing the different age groups.

Question 20

give three reasons for the ageing of the population

Answer 20

-increasing life expectancy
-declining infant mortality
-declining fertility

Question 21

explain how the ageing population has affected public services

Answer 21

-older people consume a larger proportion of services such as health and social care which means more money has to be spent on health care
-an ageing population may also mean changes to policies and provision of housing, transport or other services

Question 22

what in 8 account for one person pensioner households?
a)5 in 8
b)3 in 8
c)1 in 8

Answer 22

c) 1 in 8 or 12.5%

Question 23

why are most one person pensioner households female. give two reasons

Answer 23

-bc they generally live longer than men
-and bc they are usually younger than their husbands

Question 24

the fact that there a twice as many women than men who are over the age of 75 is described as “the ___________ of later life “

Answer 24

feminisation

Question 25

-what consequence does the ageing population have on the dependency ratio? -and how does this consequence impact others?

Answer 25

- as the number of retired ppl rises, the dependency ratio increases. - this means that the burden on the working population will increase as well.

Question 26

why could it be wrong to assume tht being an elderly person automatically means that they are financially dependent?

Answer 26

bc the age at which people can draw their pension is rising. eg from 2020 men and women have to wait until they’re 66 to access state pension, increasing to 67 from 2026

Question 27

what does hirsch argue needs to be done in regards to the problem posed by an ageing population

Answer 27

that many important social policies will need to be changed

Question 28

wht does hirsch argue are the solutions to the issue of trying to financially support the ageing population -mention 3 things

Answer 28

the solution would be for working population to pay more from their savings and taxes, or by working for longer or both

Question 29

how does the housing policy need to change? and what two things would this change do?

Answer 29

it needs to encourage older ppl to ‘trade down’ into smaller accommodation. it would release wealth to improve their standard of living and free up housing for younger ppl

Question 30

what does hirsch acknowledge is required for these policies to change?

Answer 30

a cultural change in attitudes towards old age

Question 31

-what is meant by the notion that ‘old age is a social construct’? -give an example of this concept- think ‘retirement’

Answer 31

-it means that old age isn’t a fixed, purely biological fact but is something shaped and defined by society. -eg. in an ageing society, our idea of how old is old enough to retire may change

Question 32

what is a consequence of the ageing population in modern society? think: racISM, sexISM... "the growth of..."

Answer 32

the growth of ageism

Question 33

define agesim

Answer 33

the negative stereotyping and unequal treatment of other people based on their age

Question 34

give 2 examples of how ageism occurs towards older people

Answer 34

-discrimination in employment and unequal treatment in health care -the elderly and ageing being depicted as a 'problem' in terms of the cost of pensions or health care for the old.

Question 35

what do many sociologists argue is the cause of ageism?

Answer 35

structured dependency

Question 36

explain the concept of 'structured dependency'

Answer 36

-the old are largely excluded from paid work, leaving them economically dependent on their families or the state -in modern society, identity and status are largely determined by our role in production -those excluded from production by compulsory retirement have a dependent status and a stigmatised identity.

Question 37

-what do Marxists such as Philipson argue regarding how and why the state treat the elderly how they do? -what does this mean for families of the elderly?

Answer 37

-the state is unwilling to support the elderly adequately because they are of no use to capitalism since they're no longer productive. -they, especially female relatives, often have to take responsibility for their care

Question 38

explain how the old are made dependent and powerless

Answer 38

in modern society, life's structured into a fixed series of stages (e.g childood, youth etc). so, age becomes vital in role alloation, creating fixed life stages and age related identities (eg worker or pensioner). The old are thus excluded from a role in the labour force

Question 39

what do postmodern sociologists argue in regards to the fixed stages of life?

Answer 39

that they’ve been broken down

Question 40

-what 3 examples would post modernists use to argue their view on fixed life stages in society? -what do they also say that these examples do? “they blur…”

Answer 40

-examples 1)trends such as children dressing in adult styles 2)later marriage 3)early retirement -they blur the boundaries between the life stages

Question 41

according to postmodernists, what is the key to our identities? a) production b) consumption c) subscription

Answer 41

b) consumption

Question 42

what does Hunt argue is the case in a post modern society where one can define themselves by what they consume regarding one’s lifestyle and identity?

Answer 42

that lifestyles and identities can be chosen regardless of age as it no longer determines who we are or how we live.

Question 43

in a postmodern society, what are the old now seen as?

Answer 43

a ‘market’ for a vast range of ‘body maintenance’ or ‘rejuvenation’ goods and services

Question 44

give examples of range of ‘body maintenance’ or ‘rejuvenation’ goods and services that the old are advertised/ seen as a ‘market’ for

Answer 44

-cosmetic surgery -exercise equipment -gym memberships -anti ageing products

Question 45

Who argues that age is a social construct?

Answer 45

Townsend

Question 46

how could you use class to criticise post modernist view? (3 ways) (+ 1 way regarding women)

Answer 46

-mc have better pensions and greater savings -a longer life expectancy -more ability to maintain a youthful self identity -women also earn less than men and may have to take career breaks meaning lower pensions