Child-Bearing

Depending on the cultural values you grew up around, you may be used to being around big families, with a couple having many children, who themselves go on to have many children. Even if this is true for you, there are changes in child-bearing that are of great interest to sociologists.

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    Have you ever wondered why people are choosing to have fewer children, or no children at all nowadays?

    This explanation may help answer this question!

    • Firstly, we will look at child-bearing and how patterns in child-bearing have changed in recent years.
    • Next, we will look at the main reasons behind the decrease in child-bearing in the West.

    Let's get started.

    Child-bearing: definition

    The definition of child-bearing is simply to have children. This includes being able to carry, grow and give birth to a child or children. If a woman can have children, she is considered to be child-bearing.

    The decision to have children is influenced by many social, economic, and personal factors. Couples usually decide together to have children, but it is the woman who goes through pregnancy and gives birth.

    There are growing numbers of single mothers, and changes in social situations and the roles of women have influenced child-bearing rates.

    Changes in child-bearing patterns

    Let's look at some changes in child-bearing patterns, mainly through statistics.

    According to ONS statistics for 2020, there were 613,936 live births in England and Wales, which is the lowest recorded number since 2002 and a drop of 4.1 per cent compared to 2019.

    The total fertility rate also reached a record low; in 2020 it was 1.58 children per woman. Although COVID-19 affected this rate in 2020, there is a decrease in child-bearing in the UK and in many Western countries (ons.gov.uk).

    Child-bearing and child-rearing

    We'll now be looking at factors affecting child-bearing and child-rearing - specifically, how and why they have declined over the years.

    There are many factors that have led to the decline in child-bearing and child-rearing. Let us examine a few.

    Gender roles in the family in sociology

    One of the main reasons for the decline in child-bearing is due to changes in gender roles in the family.

    • Women want to focus more on their careers first, so they delay childbearing.

    • Large families with numerous children are no longer the norm. To balance a career and family, many couples decide to have fewer children or none.

    Child-Bearing, Toy and laptop and mug on table, StudySmarterFig. 1 - In recent times, women perform more roles outside of motherhood.

    However, there are many other reasons for the decline in child-bearing, which we will consider below.

    Secularisation

    • The declining influence of traditional religious organisations means religious morality may not be prioritised by individuals.

    • The declining stigma around sex has changed its perception; procreation is no longer the only purpose of sex.

    Anthony Giddens (1992) used the phrase plastic sexuality, meaning the pursuit of sex for pleasure, and not merely for conceiving children.

    • With the declining stigma around contraception and abortion, couples have more choice and control over their fertility.

    • Traditional gender roles and 'duties' do not apply any longer; becoming a mother is not necessarily the most important task in a woman's life.

    Improved means and availability of contraception

    • Effective contraception is available to most people in the West, so there are fewer unwanted pregnancies.

    • Access to legal abortion allows women more control over childbearing.

    • Secularisation decreased the influence of religion in people’s lives, so contraception and abortion are less stigmatised.

    Feminists such as Christine Delphy argued in the 1990s that patriarchal society opposes abortion because if women had control over their fertility, they could choose not to be pregnant. They would then escape the unpaid labour of childcare, which men use to exploit them. Feminists view abortion laws as part of men's attempts to keep the status quo of capitalism and patriarchy.

    Delay in child-bearing

    • According to postmodern individualism, people want to ‘find themselves’ before they have children.

    • People tend to have children after making a career, which can take longer in the increasingly uncertain world of work.

    • It may take time to establish secure relationships. People do not want to have children until they have found the 'perfect' partner and the relationship style that suits them.

    • In 2020, the age of women with the highest fertility rate was between 30-34 years. This has been the case since 2003. (ons.gov.uk)

    The economic cost of parenting on child-bearing patterns

    Economic factors have had an effect on child-bearing patterns.

    • In uncertain employment situations and with the growing costs of living and housing, people might decide to have fewer children.

    • Ulrich Beck (1992) argues that postmodern society is increasingly child-centred, which means people tend to spend more on one child. People tend to support their children for longer than earlier. To afford that, they have to have fewer children.

    Child-Bearing - Key takeaways

    • According to ONS statistics for 2020, there were 613,936 live births in England and Wales, which is the lowest recorded number since 2002; a drop of 4.1 per cent compared to 2019.
    • There are five main reasons behind the decrease in the number of children born in the West.
    • Women have opportunities to perform in roles other than being mothers.
    • The increase in secularisation means people may not feel as pressured to follow religious values around child-bearing. There is also less stigma around sex that is not for reproducing.
    • The means and availability of contraception have improved and couples are delaying having children. In addition, it costs a lot to have, educate and support children.

    References

    1. Fig. 2. Age-specific fertility rates, England and Wales, 1938 to 2020. Source: ONS. 1938 to 2020. http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
    Frequently Asked Questions about Child-Bearing

    What is the difference between childbearing and childrearing?

    Childbearing is to have children, whilst childrearing is to raise children.

    What does childbearing mean in sociology?

    Child-bearing means having children. The decision to have children is influenced by many social, economic, and personal factors. 

    How have changing childbearing patterns influenced gender roles?

    The decline in child-bearing patterns is a result of changes in gender roles. Many women want to focus on their careers first, so they delay child-bearing.

    What is a lone parent family in sociology?

    A lone parent family is a family that is led by a single parent (mother or father). For example, a child being raised by their single, divorced mother is an example of a lone parent family.

    Why are gender roles changing? 

    There are many reasons why gender roles are changing; one reason is because women are now focusing more on their careers before having children (if at all). This leads to a change in gender roles, as women are not necessarily home-makers and mothers, they are career-oriented.

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