Sociology Demography

Harper (2012) - women's position

education of women is the most important reason for the long term fall in fertility rate as it has led to a change in mindset in women. Educated women are more likely to know about family planning + see other possibilities than being a housewife. Choosing to delay childbearing or not to have children

Harper: IMR

fall in IMR led to decline in birth rate because if more infants survive, parents will have fewer of them

Brass + Kabir:

trend to smaller families began in urban areas rather than rural areas despite urban areas having a higher IMR for longer

Phillipson

old are no use to capitalism because they are no longer productive so state is unwilling to support them -> the family (mostly female relatives) often left with responsibilities of their care (marxist)

Hunt

key identities based on consumption means we can choose a lifestyle regardless of age. Age no longer determines who we are or how we live

McKeown

improved nutrition accounted for up to ½ of the reduction in death rates - especially in TB. Increased resistance to infection + increased survival chances of those who became infected

Harper: Death rate

Fall in death rates in recent decades is due to less people smoking but obesity has replaced it as the new lifestyle epidemic. But we are moving to an 'American' health culture where lifestyles are unhealthy but a long life is achieved through expensive medication

Ehrenreich + Hochschild

care work, domestic work + sex work in Western countries increasingly done by women from poor countries. Result of: increasing demand for female labour, western women have joined the labour force + are less willing/able to perform domestic labour, failures of the state to provide adequate childcare

Erikson

globalisation has created more diverse migration patterns with back-and-forth movements rather than permanent movement. Migrants are less likely to see themselves as belonging completely to one culture/country. Instead they develop transnational identities

Cashmore

some w/c class mothers with less earning power choose to live on welfare benefits without a partner often because they've experienced abuse

Murray

growth of lone-parent families is because of an over-generous welfare state. Has created a 'perverse incentive' (rewards irresponsible behaviour like having children but being unable to provide for them). Welfare state creates a 'dependency culture'. Solution = abolition of the welfare state.

Duncan + Phillips

1 in 10 adults are 'living apart together' (in a relationship but not married or cohabiting) some cannot afford to live together, few wanted to keep their own homes. 20% see it as favourable

Coast

75% of cohabiting couples say they expect to marry each other

Bejin

for some cohabitation represents a conscious attempt to create a more equal relationship than the conventional patriarchal marriage

Fletcher

rising expectations that people place on marriage is a major cause of rising divorce rates. Couples less likely to tolerate unhappy marriage. Linked to ideology of romantic love: belief marriage should be solely based on love + there is a Mr/Mrs perfect out there . If love dies, no longer justification for remaining married + divorce lets people look for their soulmates

Allan + Crow

marriage is less embedded within the 'economic system' now (family isn't a unit of production, spouses aren't as economically dependent on each other) Women don't have to rely on husband financially so don't have to tolerate conflict or absence of love

Beck + Giddens

in modern society, each individual becomes free to pursue their own self-interest. Relationships become more fragile as people become unwilling to remain with a partner if the relationship doesn't deliver personal fulfilment. Instead they seek a 'pure relationship' that exists only to satisfy each partner's needs.

Mirza

higher rate of lone-parent families among black people isn't the result of disorganisation, but reflects the high value that is placed on independence

Ballard

extended family ties provided important source of support among Asian migrants during 1950s + 60s

Bell

both w/c + m/c families had emotional bond with kin + relied on them for support. m/c: financial support from father to son. w/c: more frequent contact + more domestic help from mothers to daughters

Cheal

where personal care for elderly woman is involved, a daughter/ daughter in law is preferred if a husband isn't available. Sons are rarely chosen as caregivers for elderly women. Daughters rarely chosen as appropriate people to provide money