Journal of European Social Policy, 15(2), May 2005, pp.123-138.
Publisher:
Sage
In recent years the decline in fertility and the difficulties faced by individuals in having the desired number of children have gained growing attention in the academic and public debate. The aim of the present paper is twofold. The first is to scrutinize the rationale and the justification of public support for individual fertility choices. This means addressing the question of why low fertility should be a problem of public concern. This is crucial because, depending on the answer, one can identify how much the actual low level of fertility should increase and which groups of the population should be addressed. The second aim of the paper is to apply the general discussion of public policies and fertility to the Spanish case. Spain is the country where the ‘child gap’, i.e. the average difference between desired and actual children, is most acute. In 1995, the average desired number of children for women aged 18-49 years was about 2.2, while the observed total fertility rate was 1.2. Thus, the Spanish ‘child gap’ is, on average, around one child per woman. The analysis of the Spanish case will be divided into two steps. First, I will try to identify who is having fewer children than the desired number and review the different explanations of why this is happening. Second, I will examine various public policies related to fertility that have been implemented in other countries and discuss their efficacy and applicability in a country with a deeply different socio-economic structure, such as Spain.
In recent years the decline in fertility and the difficulties faced by individuals in having the desired number of children have gained growing attention in the academic and public debate. The aim of the present paper is twofold. The first is to scrutinize the rationale and the justification of public support for individual fertility choices. This means addressing the question of why low fertility should be a problem of public concern. This is crucial because, depending on the answer, one can identify how much the actual low level of fertility should increase and which groups of the population should be addressed. The second aim of the paper is to apply the general discussion of public policies and fertility to the Spanish case. Spain is the country where the ‘child gap’, i.e. the average difference between desired and actual children, is most acute. In 1995, the average desired number of children for women aged 18-49 years was about 2.2, while the observed total fertility rate was 1.2. Thus, the Spanish ‘child gap’ is, on average, around one child per woman. The analysis of the Spanish case will be divided into two steps. First, I will try to identify who is having fewer children than the desired number and review the different explanations of why this is happening. Second, I will examine various public policies related to fertility that have been implemented in other countries and discuss their efficacy and applicability in a country with a deeply different socio-economic structure, such as Spain.
Subject terms:
social policy, socioeconomic groups, childlessness, demographics;
... with 14 self-defined involuntarily childless men aged between 49 and 82 years old. A latent thematic analysis highlighted the complex intersections between childlessness and individual agency, relationships and socio-cultural structures. The impact of major lifecourse events and non-events had significant implications for how childless people perform and view their social and self-identity. I argue that involuntary childlessness affects the social, emotional and relational aspects of men's lived experience across the lifecourse.
(Edited publisher abstract)
The social networks of older people are a significant influence on their health and wellbeing. Adult children are an important element in their parent's network and provide the majority of informal care. The morphology of personal networks alters with age, employment, gender and relationships. Not having children automatically reduces both vertical familial structure and affects the wider formal and informal social links that children can bring. Childless men are missing from gerontological, reproduction, sociological and psychological research. These fields have all mainly focused on family and women. This paper reports on an auto/biographical qualitative study framed by biographical, feminist, gerontological and lifecourse approaches. Data were gathered from semi-structured biographical interviews with 14 self-defined involuntarily childless men aged between 49 and 82 years old. A latent thematic analysis highlighted the complex intersections between childlessness and individual agency, relationships and socio-cultural structures. The impact of major lifecourse events and non-events had significant implications for how childless people perform and view their social and self-identity. I argue that involuntary childlessness affects the social, emotional and relational aspects of men's lived experience across the lifecourse.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
social networks, older people, childlessness, relationships, men;
Given increases in childlessness, the authors ask if and how the permanently childless substitute for adult children in their later-life support networks. Previous research finds that they are disadvantaged on several network and support indicators. Yet, the role of different substitution mechanisms remains unclear. The authors examine two substitution mechanisms: substitution through adjustments
(Edited publisher abstract)
Given increases in childlessness, the authors ask if and how the permanently childless substitute for adult children in their later-life support networks. Previous research finds that they are disadvantaged on several network and support indicators. Yet, the role of different substitution mechanisms remains unclear. The authors examine two substitution mechanisms: substitution through adjustments of network size/composition and through higher efficiency of personal ties. Data are from the German Ageing Survey (childless: N = 1,886; parents without/with residentially proximate children: N = 4,437/8,337). Their descriptive and regression results on network size/composition and the number of potential informational and emotional supporters show that both mechanisms play a role: the childless have more friends and extended kin, and they are more likely to consider them as potential supporters, than parents. Across cohorts or age groups, the relative effect size of network size/composition versus tie efficiency changes. Parents with no children nearby constitute a mixed type that shows similarities to the childless on some indicators of social support and to parents with at least one child nearby on other indicators. The findings provide a foundation for better predicting how current demographic trends affect future scenarios of social support in later life and for identifying the future need for formal care services. Thus, they are relevant for social scientists and policy makers alike.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
older people, friendship, childlessness, social networks, kinship care;
Qualitative Social Work, 8(1), March 2008, pp.45-64.
Publisher:
Sage
A small number of Cameroonian women spoke about the suffering they experience as `infertile' woman. Even though they raise children, they are still considered childless because of not producing biological offspring of their own. Assumed reasons for their `infertility' influence societal and self reactions. `Infertile' women are painfully aware of their need to be giving and acquiescent in order not to arouse the wrath of others. Still they receive derogatory comments and unfair societal demands, such as to work longer hours or share their money. These women explain the coping measures that they use in order to cope with this painful social marginalization.
A small number of Cameroonian women spoke about the suffering they experience as `infertile' woman. Even though they raise children, they are still considered childless because of not producing biological offspring of their own. Assumed reasons for their `infertility' influence societal and self reactions. `Infertile' women are painfully aware of their need to be giving and acquiescent in order not to arouse the wrath of others. Still they receive derogatory comments and unfair societal demands, such as to work longer hours or share their money. These women explain the coping measures that they use in order to cope with this painful social marginalization.
Subject terms:
infertility, social exclusion, women, childlessness, coping behaviour;
Drawing on the experiences of parents, offspring and donors and including her own and her family's story, this book explores the process of donor conception. From finding out about an infertility problem, to considering whether - and how - to tell the children about their conception, and how those children feel as the adult offspring of a donor, she provides practical suggestions as well as in-depth consideration of the emotional and ethical issues involved. The author takes the reader step-by-step through the process of deciding to use donor conception, choosing a donor, and discussing the decision with others - and considers the perspective of the donor alongside those of parents and offspring. Tackling subjects such as disclosure and offspring's access to information about the donor, this book is resource for health, counselling and social work professionals as well as for the couples and families themselves.
Drawing on the experiences of parents, offspring and donors and including her own and her family's story, this book explores the process of donor conception. From finding out about an infertility problem, to considering whether - and how - to tell the children about their conception, and how those children feel as the adult offspring of a donor, she provides practical suggestions as well as in-depth consideration of the emotional and ethical issues involved. The author takes the reader step-by-step through the process of deciding to use donor conception, choosing a donor, and discussing the decision with others - and considers the perspective of the donor alongside those of parents and offspring. Tackling subjects such as disclosure and offspring's access to information about the donor, this book is resource for health, counselling and social work professionals as well as for the couples and families themselves.
Subject terms:
access to information, assisted reproduction, birth parents, childlessness, ethics;