The future of birth and economics
Natalie Schutz
Issue date: 4/29/09 Section: Health
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This quote, from a recent Associated Press article, sums up new findings of a record-setting number of births that took place in the U.S. during 2007, even exceeding the post World War II baby boom.
These babies were mostly conceived in 2006, when times were "good."
According to Associate Professor of Sociology at Lewis, Tennille Allen, many effects came out of the postwar baby boom, such as the rise of the middle class in the U.S. However, the traditional nuclear family that was developed from this time, "only existed for this briefest period of time," Allen said.
Not only did the most births take place in 2007, 40 percent of these births were to single mothers-another record-setting statistic. In addition, these births are not from the individuals who many typically think of. Rather, "more than three-quarter of these women were 20 or older," stated the article.
Allen explained that stories such as "Juno" are not the norm. Rather, people are choosing to get married later. Consequently, women have a limited window to reproduce. This "window" starts to decline after the age of 30.
Also, Allen pointed out, "While people are delaying marriage, they're not delaying childbirth." She noted that there is now more female independence and the common thought that a woman can solely support a child herself.
Dr. Tracey Nicholls, Assistant Professor of Philosophy and Co-Director of the Womens' Studies Program, agreed. "They might be thinking this might be my last chance (to have a baby)," Nicholls said.
"Norms are just changing," Allen stated. With this comes a growing diversity of families as well. More LGBT and single parent households are now present. The cohabitation rate is also up. "Just because people aren't married doesn't mean they aren't' partnered up," said Allen.
Nicholls called this a "loosening of social constraints." "They can fit their families to their lifestyles and to their demands," she said.
How did society get to the point of acceptance to the unwed?
Nicholls believes that it took place with the societal change in the 1960s. Before this time, if a woman became pregnant and her family disapproved, she had to give the baby up. Now with social welfare benefits, it is easier for women to make their own choices on the matter.
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