Families And Households (Child Bearing)

Question 1

Why are families getting smaller?

Answer 1

Women having fewer children, delaying having children and choosing to remain childless.

Question 2

What are the reasons for people having children later in life or not at all?

Answer 2

1. The changing role and independence of women
2. The rising costs of raising a family
3. Individualisation

Question 3

Female careers explained

Answer 3

Women now often place a greater priority on their career or women are delaying their career until they are in the job market or they may decide to focus on their career and forego having children entirely.

Question 4

Cost explained

Answer 4

Centre for economics and business research estimate that it costs £200,000 to raise a child from 1 to 21. This means couples may decide that having children isn’t a financially sustainable option.

Question 5

Individualisation explained

Answer 5

More people are becoming reluctant to trade in their former life-choice options for the lifetime commitment of raising children.