♥Demography|Decline in Birthrate♥

Demography

Demography is a topic which consists of many key terms which are usually used in 2,4 and 6 mark style question so it is important to get to grips with these terms as the short answer questions can be very beneficial for your over all grade.

So, demography is a term used by sociologist to describe the study of the population and its characteristics in relation to its size, structure and distribution. This information is gathered though the use of statistics such as births, deaths, income or incidence of disease. This information allows the sociologists to examine trends and relationships within society so that we are enabled to understand the population and human behaviour and the social patterns of behaviour that are associated with them.

Here is a few terms which would be beneficial to you when answering questions on demography are:

• Birth Rate - The number of live births (not still born etc.) per 1000 of the population per year.
• Total Fertility Rate- the average number of children women will have during fertile years (these are estimated between the ages of 15-44 however was we all know there are exeption to these ages)
• Infant Mortality Rate-number of infants who die before their first birthday per 1000 live births per year

Reasons for a decline in birth rate(BR).

In the last century we have seen a small decline in birthrate this could be for a number of reasons such as :

• the changes in the status of women 

Women are now paid 'equally' to men and with laws such as the compulsory education for all that came into force in 1880 has allowed women better educational opportunities as well as a wider choice of career. Women aren't also expected to be married to have a family and children as cohabitation is on the increase and so is divorce as both have declined in their social stigma which means that women aren't ashamed of getting a divorce. Also as women are now more career driven this has meant that family planning is on the increase with contraception and abortion now readily available women are therefore having less babies,

• Decline in Infant Mortality Rate (IMR)

Some sociologists would suggest that this is on the decline in IMR meant that there has been a decline in birth rate. This is because parents who loose children they are more likely to have more children therefore they would be increasing the birthrate but due to changes in the medical technology, better ante-natal and post natal care for mothers and babies and also better knowledge of sanitation and nutrition children have better chances of surviving.

• Children  are becoming and Economic liability

Until the 19th century children were working along side parents to provide for their families however now due to the introduction of child protection laws they have become more economically dependent on their parents.

laws such banning child labour have introduced compulsory schooling and raising the school leaving age mean that children are more economically dependent on their parents for longer. there's also been a change in the norms of what children are expecting from their parents, TV adverts aim children to try and persuade their parents for what they are expecting especially the more material things such as IPod's and IPhone's.

• Child Centered society 

Our childhood is socially constructed which means that different society's have different conceptions of what it should be. In the western society we view children as vulnerable and in need protection so we do everything we can to keep our children happy and safe.

Future predictions surrounding birth rate

- slight increase due to immigration 

- but reach a constant at 2050 of roughly 700-720 000 per year