Topic four - demography

• What is demography and the characteristics

Demography: the branch of sociology that studies the characteristics of human population

Characteristics:

Size - is the population large or small, growing or declining

Age structure - the average age of the population still rising or falling

Postmodern society and old age

Hunt 2005 argues this means we can choose a lifestyle and identity regardless of age: our age no longer determines who we are or how we live

The old because a market of a vast range of ‘body maintenance’ through which they can create their identities these include gym membership, anti-aging products and cosmetic surgery

How has medical improvements declined the death rate

After the 1950s improved medical knowledge techniques and organisation did help to reduce death rates. Advances include antibiotics, immunisation blood transfusions and improved maternity care

Impacts of a declining birth rate - public services and policies

A lower birth rate has consequences from public services

For eg: fewer schools, maternity and children health services may be needed. It also affects cost of maternity + paternity leave and types of housing that need to be built

An aging population is rising

Impacts of a declining birth rate - family structure

Smaller families mean that women are more likely to be free to go out to work, creating a dual earner couple, typical of many professional families

What are some issues with the decline in birth rate

• changes in family structure

Childless couples And less nuclear families also choosing to not marry

• impact on economy

Consumerism and migration

• impact on policies

Loss of child centeredness

• ageing population

Why are more women remaining childless

• free will/choice with their bodies - contraception

• Focusing on career

• Personal choice

• Financial reasons

• May be unable to find partner

• Radical feminism - political lesbianism

The total fertility rate

Fertility rate - the average number of children a women will have during their fertile years (15-44)

Factors determining this - child bearing age and how fertile they are

Changes - more women are remaining childless and women are postponing having children

Things that impact the population

• births

• Deaths

• Movement in

• Movement out

The birth rate

The number of live births per thousand of population per year

Impacts of a declining birth rate - dependency ratio

Is the relationship between the working part of population and the size of the fate non working (dependent) part of the population

The earnings savings and taxes of the working population must support the dependent part of the population children make up a lot of the dependent population so a fall in number of children/births reduce the ‘ burden of dependency ‘ on the working population

The death rate

The number of deaths per thousand of the population per year

Why has the death rate declined

• improved nutrition

• Medical improvements

• Public health measures

• Smoking and diet

How has improved nutrition declined the death rate

Thomas mckeown argues that improved nutrition was particularly important from TB. Better nutrition increased survival chances of those who did become infected

Three main consequences of ageing population

• public services - the NHS, social care, criminal justice system, education and neighbourhood services

• One person households - a living arrangement where an individual reside alone without any other family member

• Dependency ratio - the average number of economically dependent population per 100 economically productive population

What is ageism?

The negative stereotyping of people on the basis of their age. Eg: the old are often portrayed as vulnerable, incompetent or irrational and a burden to society

Modern society and old age

Marxist, phillipson argues that the old are no use to capitalism because they are no longer in production

The old are excluded from a role in the labour force and are made dependent and powerless

Family and state have to financially support older people

The uk demography

• in the uk before 1980 we had more birth then deaths - natural change - when there are more births or more deaths

• After 1980 we have more immigration than emigration (net migration)

What causes an aging population

• NHS has improved so people are living longer - improvement of welfare systems

• New medicines and technology - decline in death rate

• Decline in fertility rate

• Residential care / social housing

The impact of migration on the uk population structure - dependency ratio

Immigrants are more likely to be of working age and this helps lowers dependency ratio many older immigrants return to their origin country to retire

However because they are younger immigrants have more children thereby increasing the ratio, overtime children will join the labour force and this lowers the ratio once again

What is immigration

Refers to the movement into an area

What is globalisation

The process of the world becoming smaller barriers and boarders are breaking down to allow us to have more contact with the rest of the world

It has an impact on education we can now implement policies form other countries to raise achievement levels

It has impacted all of us

The impact of migration on uk population structure - age structure

Immigration lowers the average age of the population both directly and indirectly

• directly immigrants are generally younger

• Indirectly being younger immigrants are more fertile and thus produce more babies

The impact of migration on uk population size - population size

The uk pop is currently growing part as a result of immigration;

• net migration is high with more immigrants than emigrants

• There is also an natural increase with births exceeding deaths

Facts and figures - emigration

Since 1900s most emigrants have gone to the USA Canada and South Africa

Main reasons for emigration have been economic

Facts and figures - immigration

• Fromm 1900 - 1940s the largest immigration groups In the uk were the Irish, European and people from USA Canada - very few immigrants were not white

• By 1980s non whites were accounted from barely ¼ of immigrants the white countries of the EU became the chief source of immigrants

What is emigration

Refers to movement out of an area or society

What is net migration

Is the difference between the numbers of immigrating and emigration and is expressed as a net increase or net decrease due to migration