Birth rate

What are the trends in birth rate?

The birth rate in England and Wales fell from 18/1000 to 11/1000 from 1950 to 2023.

What are the trends in total fertility rate?

2.9 babies per woman in 1960 to 1.6 babies per woman in 2022

5 factors for changes in birth rate?

1. Economic changes

2. Technological and medical advances

3. Changes in the role of women

4. Postmodernisation

5. Changes to childhood

Economic changes

P: Globally, the general trend is the wealthier a country, the lower the birth weight.

E: This can be explained by parents having fewer ‘replacement babies to make up for those who die before their 1st birthday as there is a higher living standard. This allows for better medical equipment, education and housing so a lower infant mortality rate.

E: Additionally Functionalists argue that in wealthier countries, the state takes over key functions of the family, like through the welfare state. The welfare state provides the NHS which allows for a higher infant mortality rate but also it will take care of people once they’re elderly.

L: The state has replaced the functions of society and can do them better

E: Determinists → people don’t react to changes like robots → may lead to having more kids

Technological and medical advances

P: Giddens argues that through the invention of the contraceptive pill → ‘plastic sexuality’

E: Sex has become detached from reproduction → women become in power of their own reproduction

E: Women can now delay having kids today through IVF and freezing their eggs → extend their fertility to suit them and their own needs

L: Women now choose to have children later and can choose to have fewer children to focus on themselves

E: There is no direct correlation between the ingestion of The Pill and decline in fertility rate.

Changing role of women

P: Giddens and Beck argue that women have legal equality with men and has more educational opportunities than ever. This has led to changes in family life.

E: Career is now the main priory for many women and childbearing is delayed if an average of 10 years compared to the 1950s. Women now typically have their first child in their 30s not 20s and up to ¼ expected to remain childless.

E: Sharpe study

L: Women prioritise their career

E: Women still do the majority of the childcare and housework → suffer consequence in career

Changes in the position of children

P: The position of children has changed

Recall argument for march of progress