Examine Changes in Patterns of Childbearing and Childrearing in the United Kingdom Since the 1970s

Examine changes in patterns of childbearing and childrearing in the United Kingdom since the 1970s

Childbearing and childrearing in the 1970's was becoming less common to have children because after the war many things had changed. Women had much more opportunities like career changes and had equality. The role of a women was much more independent and newer for example, going out to work, taking career opportunities instead of looking after the children, this showed that women did not need to be dependent on men for their income which caused less pressure for them as they did not need to get married early, also because The Equal Pay Act of 1970 specified that women should be paid the same as men for doing the same job so that was another reason why they didn't need to rely on men. The increase within single parent families was caused from women losing their husbands in the war. At this time it was easier to get a divorce out of relationships that weren't working and women after 1967 had the choice of abortion. Since abortion was introduced women could do what they like, when they like because having a family may not have been their top priority. With women gaining independence more children were being born outside of marriage. in fact over four in every ten children are born outside of marriage, births are registered by both parents suggesting most causes are cohabiting.

First of all, over four in every ten children are now born outside marriage. This is five times more than in 1971. However, nearly all these births were registered by both parents. In most cases, the parents are cohabitating. One reason for this increase in births outside marriage may be the decline in stigma and increase in cohabitation. For example, only one-third of 18-24 year olds now think marriage should come before parenthood. Secondly, women now have fewer children than in the 1970s. For example, in 2001 the average number of children per women fell to a record low of 1.63. This change in...