When to Have ChildrenWhen to Have Children

Factors for Would-be ChildrenFactors for Would-be Children

Society and social valuesSociety and social values

Religion ( couples who attend faith services Religion ( couples who attend faith services tend to have more children than those who tend to have more children than those who don’t)don’t)

Economic conditions and personal financesEconomic conditions and personal finances

Feelings about childrenFeelings about children

Psychological readinessPsychological readiness

Presence of genetic diseasesPresence of genetic diseases

Pressure from friends and other family membersPressure from friends and other family members

When to have childrenWhen to have children

The Average age of women having their The Average age of women having their first child is rising:first child is rising:1960s and 1970’s – early 20s1960s and 1970’s – early 20sBetween 1986 and 1997 – between 20 Between 1986 and 1997 – between 20 and 34 yearsand 34 yearsMany women ‘delayed parenting’ – so had Many women ‘delayed parenting’ – so had a shorter time to have childrena shorter time to have childrenThe net result being a reduction in fertility The net result being a reduction in fertility ratesrates

Mothers, young and old29.6 - The average age of mothers who gave birth

in 2003, continuing a long-established upward trend. Two decades ago, the average age was 26.9

years.48% - The percentage of mothers in Canada who were age 30 and older when they gave birth in

2003.52% - The percentage of mothers in Canada who were under age 30 when they gave birth in 2003. 30.3 - The average age of mothers in Ontario who

gave birth in 2003, the oldest in Canada.25.3 - The average age of mothers in Nunavut who

gave birth in 2003, the youngest in Canada.Source: The Daily, July 12, 2005, "Births".

9494 - The number of females in Canada - The number of females in Canada under the age of 15under the age of 15 who had given birth (live births) in 2003.who had given birth (live births) in 2003.

346346 - The number of females in Canada - The number of females in Canada aged 45 to 49aged 45 to 49 who who had given birth (live births) in 2003.had given birth (live births) in 2003.

Source: Source: CANSIMCANSIM Table 102-4508, "Live births, by age and parity of mother, Table 102-4508, "Live births, by age and parity of mother, Canada, annual".Canada, annual".

New mothersNew mothers28.028.0 - The average age among women who - The average age among women who gave birth for the first timegave birth for the first time in 2003. in 2003. 21.721.7 - The average age of first-time mothers - The average age of first-time mothers in Nunavut, the youngest in Canada in 2003.in Nunavut, the youngest in Canada in 2003.

Source : Source : The DailyThe Daily, July 12, 2005, ", July 12, 2005, "BirthsBirths".".

Why These Trends?Why These Trends?

Men and women are staying in school Men and women are staying in school longerlonger

Couples getting married later – start Couples getting married later – start families later, women miss their ‘most families later, women miss their ‘most fertile’ years fertile’ years

A small family has become the norm for A small family has become the norm for couples who delay parenthoodcouples who delay parenthood

Symboilc Interactionists would say that Symboilc Interactionists would say that couples who delay parenthood are couples who delay parenthood are choosing to control their own destinychoosing to control their own destiny

(does this mean that they are in a sense (does this mean that they are in a sense ‘choosing to play God?)‘choosing to play God?)

There are definitely new norms for older There are definitely new norms for older parents – often into their 40’sparents – often into their 40’s

-in the past couples may have been -in the past couples may have been considered to ‘old’ to become parents, but considered to ‘old’ to become parents, but new norms have been created through new norms have been created through their behaviourtheir behaviour

Medical TechnologiesMedical Technologies

As medical technology develops, we hear As medical technology develops, we hear and see on the media of women into their and see on the media of women into their late 40s and even older having childrenlate 40s and even older having children

What do you think?What do you think?

For some women, the later they have their For some women, the later they have their first child, the harder it is to actually first child, the harder it is to actually conceiveconceive

Even with modern technology such as in Even with modern technology such as in vitro, women who are infertile suffer the vitro, women who are infertile suffer the same amount of anxiety and depression as same amount of anxiety and depression as women who are suffering from cancer and women who are suffering from cancer and heart diseaseheart disease

Dual Income FamiliesDual Income Families

Parenting delayed so they can afford the Parenting delayed so they can afford the cost of a childcost of a child

One spouse needs to have an extended One spouse needs to have an extended absence from employment or use child absence from employment or use child carecare

Births Outside of MarriageBirths Outside of Marriage

Births by women outside of marriage has Births by women outside of marriage has increased (look at chart on p. 286)increased (look at chart on p. 286)

Births outside of marriage in the past were Births outside of marriage in the past were teenage moms, however, that has teenage moms, however, that has changedchanged

More than half the births outside of More than half the births outside of marriage were primarily to women over the marriage were primarily to women over the age of 25age of 25

Why?Why?

Cohabitation more common – (for example Cohabitation more common – (for example in Quebec)in Quebec)

Symbolic Interactionists would say that Symbolic Interactionists would say that this is becoming an acceptable ‘societal this is becoming an acceptable ‘societal norm’ and the acceptance of the idea of norm’ and the acceptance of the idea of how unmarried mothers view themselveshow unmarried mothers view themselves

Teenage BirthsTeenage Births

Rate and number of teenage births in Canada is Rate and number of teenage births in Canada is decreasing (see chart on p. 287)decreasing (see chart on p. 287)

Why?Why?

The text book states that this is because teens The text book states that this is because teens are have more education about contraception are have more education about contraception etcetc

However, look at what is happening to the However, look at what is happening to the abortion rateabortion rate

Again, Why?Again, Why?

Number of ChildrenNumber of Children

The birth rate in Canada has been The birth rate in Canada has been declining steadily since the end of the declining steadily since the end of the Baby BoomBaby Boom

1.5 birth rate, far below the 2.1 1.5 birth rate, far below the 2.1 replacement ratereplacement rate

However, the birth rate for immigrants, However, the birth rate for immigrants, such as the Muslim population, is sky such as the Muslim population, is sky rocketingrocketing

HomeworkHomework

1.1. Read the in focus on p. 289 and answer Read the in focus on p. 289 and answer questions on p. 292questions on p. 292

2.2. Using the social exchange theory, apply Using the social exchange theory, apply it to delayed parenting. (you will hand it to delayed parenting. (you will hand this in for assessment)this in for assessment)