Families and households - Demography Flashcards
What are the factors increasing and decreasing population size?
Increasing
- Birth
- Immigration
Decreasing
- Death
- Emigration
Define birth rate and show how it has changed over time.
Birth rate: the number of live births per 1,000 per year
1990: 29
2014: 12.2
What have been the ‘baby booms’ and why?
1921: end of WWI
1946: end of WWII
1960’s: contraceptive pill is made available
Define the TFR and show how it has changed over time.
The Total Fertility Rate: the average number of children women will have during their fertile years (15-44)
1964: 3
2001: 1.6
2023: 1.4
What are the four reasons for the decline in the birth rate?
- Changes in women’s position
- Decline in infant mortality rate
- Children are now an economic liability
- Child centredness
How does change in women’s position affect birth rate? Give a study.
Harper (2012): the increased education of women (GIST/WISE) is the most important reason for the long-term fall in birth rates - educated women are more likely to use family planning and see possibilities aside from mother and wife.
Give a counterpoint to the change in women’s position as affecting the birth rate.
Fuller (2011): W/C girls persist in seeing well-paying masculine jobs as ‘for us’ so its a generalisation.
How does change in IMR affect birth rate?
Harper (2012) argues that families will have lots of children if they are more likely to die so a decreasing IMR will decrease birth rate, and vice-versa.
How has the IMR changed?
1900: 154/1000
Now: 4/1000
Give two reasons the IMR has decreased.
- Improved housing and sanitation reduces infectious diseases that are more likely to harm babies
-Improved welfare services to make sure babies and families are properly taken care of
Give a counterpoint to the importance of IMR in the decreasing birth rate.
Brass Kabir (1978): the trend to smaller families did not start in rural areas, where the IMR first fell, but in rural areas
How have economics affected the birth rate?
Pre-the Children and Young Persons Act 1933, children were an economic asset to their family in the short-term, providing a livable wage. Since, they have lost that benefit and have become an economic liability which discourages childbearing.
Give a counter argument to economics in the decreasing birth rate.
IfFS (2024): higher earning women are less likely to have children, which would disagree with the idea that the cost of raising children is the main issue.
How has child centredness decreased the birth rate?
Aries (1960): As childhood is considered more important, there is a shift from quantity to quality to ensure children are adequately socialised and happy
How do changes in fertility affect the family?
Women may be able to go to work due to having less children and create more equal, dual-earning families. However, fertility is not the only factor, better-off couples may be able to have larger familes and hire childcare to supplement.
