CHAPTER 7 SHARLA CARMENCITA ELIZABETH Becoming Parents

Transition Of Parenthood Approach the decision of divorce more slowly Major readjustments take place Parenting is becoming harder

Influenced by: Benefits of children Costs of children Broad economic factors Individual life-style factors Societal norms Policies

Falling Fertility Average of two births per woman is referred to as the replacement value Average # of births per Canadian woman is 1.6 Average age of first child is 29.7 (2004)

Fertility Baby boom: post WWII, unanticipated rise in birth rate Why?

Fertility Chart Page content follows Chart 4 Births, Canada, 1921 to 2007 Previous

Child Spacing Low birth weight is highest among children born shortly after the end of their mother’s last pregnancies 1 or 3 year spacing between siblings was more positive or children’s self esteem than a two year spacing

Childless Marriages All couples --- 7,482,780 Married with kids 3,443,775 Married without kids 2,662,130 Common-law with kids 618,150 Common –law without kids 758,715

Births Outside of Marriage Unwed parenthood is no longer most prevalent among teenagers More than half of all unmarried mothers now are 25 or over Unmarried births are highest in Quebec Figure 7.5 in Page 194

Adolescent Pregnancy Lower in 1994 than in 1974 ( almost as many adolescent pregnancies end in abortion as in live births) When compared to women in the year age group, teen moms are most likely to postpone prenatal care, have children with low birth weights and have higher infant mortality

Question Do you believe that birth control clinics should be required to notify parents when their teenage children have requested contraceptive or abortion information?

Adoption Is a process where someone assumes parent responsibility and transfers all legal rights Infertility is the main reason couples seek to adopt Decline in children being placed in adoptive homes between 1980 to 1990 See p. 198 figure 7.7

,590 (total) ,075 (total) 2 persons 93,710 or 41% 3 “ “ 42, % 4 “ “ 47, % 5 “ “ 28, % 6 “ “ 11, % 7 & up 4, % Average is persons 99,580 or 46% 3 “ “37, % 4 “ “ 41, % 5” “ 24, % 6 “ “8, % 7 & up 3, % Average is 3.2 Family Size

Birth Order and Sibling Relationships First-borns tend to be intellectual achievers and have high levels of self esteem Female first- borns tend to be more religious, sexually conservative, traditionally oriented to feminine roles, and associates with adults

Birth Order and Sibling Relationships Middle born: -lower levels of self- esteem, first and last get recognition, compete for resources with older siblings close in age Last born: - tend to be more sexually permissive, more likely to engage in social activities, visit with friends frequently, are high media consumers, and are less traditional

Sex Control Choosing the sex of the child Would it create unbalanced sex ratio? Boys preferred over girls in Africa, Asia, Middle East, Swiss, Belgians, Italians, and Jews and Catholics in U.S

Question If you had an option, would you choose the sex of your child?