Childlessness

1. Childlessness

2. Why do couples remain childless? • For some couples, it is ‘voluntary childlessness” , meaning that couples decide deliberately not to have children Reasons: Some couples do not want to have a “child-centered” lifestyle

3. Social Exchange • Would explain that couples remain childless because they don’t see the benefits of childbearing as a fair exchange for the time, energy, and money they would have to contribute to raising a child • Lifestyles of couples without children very different than those with

4. Natural Childlessness • Couples who can’t bear their own children through infertility problems of one of the spouses • It is very devastating and frustrating for couples who want to have their own children, but because of medical difficulties, they can’t • The whole process of ‘medical intervention’ can be equally as frustrating and devastating

5. Adoption • Is a route some couples want to take • Most would like to have a newborn, but, the availability of newborns has decreased considerably • Most ‘available’ children are older and harder to place

6. Attitudes Towards Childbearing • “Children are viewed as a source of developmental satisfaction that is accompanied by a set of monetary costs” • Do you think that this is society's view towards childbearing today?

7. Intergenerational Concerns • What impact is a reduced fertility rate going to have on this generation as it ages? • Are families going to be able to depend on their adult children to care for them in the same ways as has happened in the past?

8. Role of Society • The family has handed over many of the functions of the ‘family’ to society • Eg. Children are socialized and educated by the school system • Most children now participate in organized sports and activities • Children are very influenced by the media – what they view on television has a huge influence on them

9. Many children are cared for outside the home – day care centers etc • -in some cases these ‘outside’ agencies spend more time with children than the parents do • How does that affect a child’s development? • It is said that a child’s moral ‘code’ of living and set of behaviour norms etc is set by the time they are 5 years old • If they learn these values outside the home, how will that affect their lives as teens and adults?

10. Activity • With a partner, read the case study “deciding to have a child” on p. 297 • Answer the questions on p. 297 • You have 15 minutes to do this • We will take up the answers then