This means children are now expensive to have and people do not have the money to have as many children as they used too. Medical advances have been a consequence to the changes in population. Due to improvements in midwifery and immunisation, the infant mortality rate has decreased significantly. This now means partners do not need to have as many children as it is more certain their child will live through their childhood. This was not the case at the beginning of the 20th century.
Sharpe’s believe this could be because of the changing attitudes of society in general towards women and the impact of feminism. Mitsos and Browne (1998) say that the service sector which is traditionally seen as women’s work has expanded. Employers usually like women in this sector as they have good communication skills and the rise in the employment of women has given girls the incentive to do well at school. Mac and Ghaill claim that the decline in male employment opportunities has led to an ‘Crisis of Masculinity’ as many boys now believe they have a less chance in a getting a proper job. This undermines their motivation and self-esteem therefore they give up on trying to do well in education and have a fatalistic attitude towards it.
According to N.L Tranter (1996), over three quarters of the decline in the death rate from 1850 to 1970 was due to a fall in the number of deaths from infectious diseases. Since deaths from infectious disease were commonest amongst the younger generations, it is not surprising that most of the decline in the death rate came from infants, children and young adults. This decrease in the death rate is part of what has led to a growing population in the UK. However, this is not the only reason for a decline in the death rate leading to an increase in the population in the UK. Thomas McKeown (1972) also points out that improved nutrition is also part of what has led to a decreasing death rate, he believes it is accountable for up to half the reduction in death rates.
More children are born in Britain today outside of marriage than in most other European countries. This has been linked to many explanations such as; poor education in sexual health and the lack of knowlege on different types of contraceptives. Nearly a quarter of children lived with only one parent (25%) last year and nine out of ten of these households were headed by mothers. Dennis and Erdos believe that is is down to most families being fatherless, meaning they automatically have poor health and lower educational attainment, however this is only one theory. Another main reason is the simple fact people are marrying later for many reasons, more because of the change in attitudes towards education and religion (seclurisation).
The article “No Babies” by Russell Shorto discusses how the population in Europe is drastically decreasing because the low birth rate and higher death rate. He discusses how the birth to death rate is very unbalanced as well, which is a result of the declining population. European culture is feared be lost due to the fact that the majority of the European population is mainly made up of older generations and few younger. In the article Population “7 Billion”, Robert Kunzig discusses how the population worldwide is increasing drastically. He discusses that although the population is growing, our planet may not have all the resources it needs to accommodate the growing population.
Women are choosing to have babies later which is also causing the birth rate to drop this is because there is less stigma on having babies t an older age so women are waiting and not worrying what people might think. Babies cost a lot of money so women are saving up first and then having their baby this is a problem for birth rates because once they have waited they are likely to have less
One of these policies is the divorce act 1969; which has made it easier for couples to get divorced. Due to this, marriage has become less sacred which has made the family unit weaker. Couples may get a divorce instead of trying hard in the relationship to make it better. Another law affecting the family is the new deal 1998; which makes it easier for lone mothers to get back into paid work. This was introduced by the Labour party, who Lewis argues have taken on the idea of ‘social investment in children’ seriously and have realised family forms are changing.
The death rate has fallen since 1900, which could be due to improvements in healthcare or the improved nutrition which has accounted for the reduction in death rates. However there are consequences for the decreasing death rate and one major consequence of this is the ageing population. The UK date rate refers to the overall number of deaths per year. In 2010, the death rates decreased to 493,242 which is a reduction of the death rate from 600,000 deaths per year in the early 1900s. There have been several reasons for the decline in death rate, and one of the reasons include the improved nutrition that the UK has achieved during the 1900s.
Secularisation means the decline of the importance / influence of religion in society. Due to science becoming more influential in a modern society, religion is no longer necessarily seen as such an important contributor. As marriage is a religious concept, it might also now be seen as somewhat less significant in society and many might not perceive it to be as valuable or important as it once was. Divorce could be the result of this as the decline of the value of marriage might lead people to believe it is not long term. A third reason for changes in the divorce rate is the changes in women’s expectations surrounding marriage.
Causes of Ageing Population Ageing population becomes increasingly serious in the world because of the demographic transition. The first reason is the decrease in death rate. It is caused by the increased awareness of public hygiene and the improvement of medical equipments and treatments like the use of vaccination and medicine. People’s diseases can be cured better so that there is a diminution in death from contagious diseases. Besides, a better way of life also leads to decline in mortality.