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How important is parenthood: childlessness and support in old age in England
- Authors:
- WENGER G. Clare, SCOTT Anne, PATTERSON Nerys
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing and Society, 20(2), March 2000, pp.161-182.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
This article asks whether the distinction between parenthood and childlessness make much difference to social support in old age. Using data from Liverpool, it compares the support networks of older people in three categories: parents; married but childless and unmarried and childless. The principal finding is that childlessness has a negative impact on support network strength only for single men and married women. The findings have implications for the evaluation of social policies that are based on the expectation that individual female family members, in the context of a male-breadwinner family, will provide 'caring' for dependent persons. Such provision of care may incur diminished receipt of care for some women in old age.