Having Children

1. Having Children Unit 4 – Chapter 9

2. Fertility Trends • Fertility the ability to produce children • Total fertility rate is the estimated number of children born to each woman each year • Canada’s total fertility rate is below its replacement rate, which is 2.1 births per woman (in 2011 it was 1.63)

3. Fertility Trends

4. ‘Domestic dream’ of 2.5 children per woman long gone as fertility rate declines for third year in row

5. Fertility Trends • We are not producing enough children to replace our population • Why is this bad? • There may not be enough workers or consumers for economic growth • There may not be enough younger people to create the economic output necessary to provide the support systems for older generations

6. The Baby Boom • The baby boom lasted from 1947 to 1966 • Government policies and social marketing encouraged women to return to their domestic roles and have children • The federal government introduced the Family Allowance, a monthly payment per child to all mothers

7. The Baby Boom • Canada’s fertility rate rose to 3.94 as the birth rate increased for older and younger women • Social institutions and policies encouraged couples to have children

8. The 2nd Demographic Transition • The birth-control pill became available and legal to use in Canada in 1969 • It became the norm for couples to use contraception when they married until they were ready to have children

9. The 2nd Demographic Transition • Gender equality, increased education, greater labour force participation and equal pay policies for women made it more costly to give up income to stay home and have children • From 1961 to 1971, Canada’s fertility rate declined from 3.94 to 2.0, below the replacement level of 2.1 & has continued to decline since then

10. Current Fertility Rates • Recently, fertility rates have started to increase and are attributed to women aged 30-39 • Births by unmarried women have increased • In the past, children born outside of marriage were considered to be illegitimate, meaning the child did not have the legal right to financial support or inheritance

11. Delayed Parenthood • Having children later than the established time has an impact on Canadian fertility rates • Women who begin childbearing later in life have a shorter time in which to have children • Emerging adults in Canada are delaying the transition to adulthood by pursuing more education and working later • Couples are cohabiting first, then marrying later

12. Delayed Parenthood • Couples who delay parenting tend to be well-educated and in a dual-income family with higher family income • Women who delay childbearing are twice as likely to be married as those having children in their early 20s • These socio-economic benefits are offset by health concerns

13. Delayed Parenthood • As fertility declines with age, the chances of having children naturally also decline • More couples are turning to assisted human reproduction for help

14. Multiple Births • Over 11,000 multiple birth babies are born in Ontario each year • From 1997-2006 the rate of multiples has increased 35% • Couples who have multiples have a higher rate of divorce than couples who only have one child

15. Why the rise in multiple births? • Older mothers • Fertility treatments • Improved medical care increases survival rates

16. Deciding to Have Children • In 2004, 66% of Canadian children were planned • Canadian couples do not have as many children as they would like to have • Children are viewed as a source of developmental satisfaction accompanied by large monetary costs

17. Childless or Child Free? • Some individuals choose not to have children – they refer to themselves as “child free” because “childless” suggests that something is missing from their lives • Couples who cannot have children or are childless as a result of circumstances feel as though they have lost something • Recent studies have shown that whether a woman has a child or not has no impact on her psychological well being if she is married or in a committed relationship

18. Child Free by Choice • Couples who choose not to have children challenge the traditional idea that children are a natural and desired part of marriage • Reasons for remaining child-free vary: rejection of a child-centered lifestyle, medical concerns, financial considerations, career, lack of suitable partner, etc.

19. Adoption • The rate of adoption has increased over the last two decades in Canada • About 1700 public adoptions and 1000 private adoptions take place in Canada each year

20. Adoption • 51% of women who give up their children for adoption feel they are too young to be a parent • Other reasons are the inability to care for a child financially, disruptions to education and career plans and a lack of family support

21. Couple Relationships & Children Factors to consider when planning to have children: • Do you have enough time for a child? • Do you understand the responsibilities involved with having children? • How strong is your relationship?

22. Couple Relationships & Children • Individuals in couple relationships choose to become parents because they feel that it will fulfill them as individuals and enrich their relationship • They question whether having children will make them happier. If the answer is YES, then they have children