Demography

What is the distinction between the total fertility rate and the birth rate

• total fertility - average number of children women will have during childbearing years

• birth rate - number of live birthdays per 1000 of the population every year

What are the reasons why the birth rate has declined

1. decline in infant mortality rate

2. child centred family (quality over quantity)

3. changes in women’s position (attitudes to paid employment)

4. economic liability (previously economic asset)

What is the impact of the falling birth rate

1. increase in duel earner households

2. smaller family size

3. dependency ratio

4. ageing population

Statistic for impact of falling infant mortality rate on birth rate

IMR has fallen by 59% since 1990

Why has the death rate declined

1. Improved nutrition

2. medical improvements (bypass surgery has reduced deaths by heart disease by 1/3)

3. smoking and diet - HARPER

4. public health measures (clean air act reduced pollution such as the smog which led to 4000 deaths)

What sociologist spoke about improved nutrition in regards to falling death rate

Mckeown says improved nutrition has especially impacted TB as it reduces the chance of infection and increased the chances of survival

What is an evaluation for improvement in nutrition in regards to falling death rate

It fails to explain why deaths from some infectious diseases eg: measles rose at a time of increased nutrition

What is the stat on increasing life expectancy

Increased by 2 years per decade

How does class and region impact death rate

• poorest areas of England die 7 years earlier than richest

• w/c men are 3x more likely to die before 64

What are the causes of an ageing population

1. Increased life expectancy

2. decline in IMR

3. declining fertility

What are the impacts of an ageing population

1. changes in public services

2. Increase in one pensioner households

3. dependency ratio

How has structural dependancy caused ageism (modern society + old age)

Old people are excluded from paid work leaving them economically dependant on families or the state, in modern society our status is dependant on our role in production which leads to a stigmatised identity

What does Phillipson say about modern society and old age

old people are no longer of use to capitalism because they are no longer productive, the state isn’t willing to provide adequate care forcing female family members to provide this support

Post modern society and old age

Life course is broken down in PM society (eg:early retirement, late marriage) which means there is a greater choice of life style no matter the age

Post modern society and consumption

Consumption, not our role in production, is the key to our identities as we define ourself by what we consume

• old people become a market for body maintenance products eg : cosmetic surgery

What is an evaluation for the post modern perception on old age

Ignores inequalities which limit choices and identity, 29% of people say age discrimination is more common out of any other