Chapter 8 – Deciding About Parenthood

Carefully read and understand the section Fertility Trends in the United States (pg. 188)

What are opportunity costs?

The things parents must give up in order to have children such as applying for a promotion that requires longer hours or travel taking a vacation, or simply pursuing a hobby or interest

Pronatalist Bias

a cultural attitude that takes having children for granted  

Structural Antinatalism

the structural or societal conditions in which bearing and raising children is discouraged either overtly or – as may be the case in the US – covertly through inadequate support for parents

Value of Children Perspective

motivation for parenthood because of the rewards including symbolic rewards that children bring to parents

How do children affect couple happiness?

Review the subsection Choosing to Be Childfree

Carefully study the section Having Children: Options and Circumstances

Why are siblings (pg. 202) an important factor to think about when deciding about parenthood?

What is multipartnered fertility?

Involuntary Infertility

Assisted Reproductive Technology

Informal Adoption

Attachment Disorder