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Why Americans Are Having Fewer Children

Why Americans Are Having Fewer Children. Jessica Wisniewski & Tanner Path. Then & Now. According to the U.S. Census Bureau… The average age of a woman when her first child is born In 1970: 21.4 years old Today : Around 25 years old

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Why Americans Are Having Fewer Children

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  1. Why Americans Are Having Fewer Children Jessica Wisniewski & Tanner Path

  2. Then & Now According to the U.S. Census Bureau… • The average age of a woman when her first child is born • In 1970: 21.4 years old • Today: Around 25 years old • Percent of Women between the ages of 30-34 who don’t have children • In 1970: 16% didn’t have children • Today: 27% don’t have children

  3. Then & Now • Percent of families with just one child • In 1970: 33% • Today: 43% • Percent of married couples that have any children in the household • In 1970: 40% • Today: 20% What Happened?

  4. Ethical Reasons According to a survey from “The Childless by Choice Project”: • “I love my life, and my relationship, as it is, and having a child won’t enhance it.” • “I value freedom and independence.” • “I do not want to take on the responsibility of raising a child.” • “I have no desire to have a child, I feel no maternal or paternal instinct.” • I want to accomplish and experience things in life that would be difficult to do if I was a parent.” • “I want to focus my time and energy on interests, needs, and goals.” • “Raising children is very expensive and I do not have the money for it.”

  5. Social Reasons • The idea that children need more one-on-one time with their parents, and that having too many children makes this difficult, is becoming very popular. • Contraceptives are now readily available and it is socially acceptable for physicians to distribute them. It is also socially acceptable to purchase contraceptives at convenience stores. • Contraception has become much more popular and socially acceptable in our schools over the years. • Now that it is the “norm” to not have many children, it is often seen as socially odd if a family ends up having a lot of kids. • Youtube clip: http://youtu.be/CxxJt7k0lEA

  6. Political Reasons • There are no rules or regulations on how many children you can have in the U.S. • Abortion was legalized on January 22, 1973. This is was very controversial. Since then, abortion has become much more available, and continues to play a role in the decreasing birth rates here in America.

  7. The Other Side of The Topic: Why Some Couples are Having More Children Than Most Americans • “A large number of children brings to the home liveliness and joy.” • “With more siblings, there are more playmates, more sharing and more love to give and receive.” • “The more kids you have, the more helpers you have around the house.” • Religious Convictions • A few examples of religious statements aimed to encourage Americans to have many children: • “Large families were God’s plan from the beginning.” • “How many children we receive is determined by God’s holy will!” • Deciding not to use effective contraceptive methods, or any contraceptive methods at all

  8. What Could Cause Childbearing in America to Increase Once More • Establishing a more family-friendly tax code • Pushing for more flexible work hours • The reduction of the cost of college • A rise in the economy • A more secure economic foundation beneath working-class Americans

  9. Sources • Douthat, Ross. “More Babies, Please.” NYTimes.com. The New York Times, 01 Dec. 2012. Web. 23 Nov. 2013. < http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/02/opinion/sunday/douthat-the-birthrate-and-americas-future.html>. • Momversation. “Wow, That’s a Lot of Kids! Do You Judge Large Families?” Youtube. Web. 25 Nov. 2013. <http://youtu.be/CxxJt7k0lEA>. • “Roe v. Wade (No. 70-18) 314 F.Supp. 1217, Affirmed in Part and Reversed in Part.” Law.Cornell.edu. Legal Information Institute, n.d. Web. 24 Nov. 2013. <http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/historics/USSC_CR_0410_0113_ZS.html>.

  10. Sources • “The Childless by Choice Survey.” ChildessByChoiceProject.com. The Childless by Choice Project, n.d. Web. 26 Nov. 2013. <http://childlessbychoiceproject.com/ Childless_by_Choice_Survey.html>. • United States Census Bureau. U.S. Department of Commerce, n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2013. <http://www.census.gov>. • Winfrey, Oprah. “Big Families.” Oprah.com. Everything Oprah, 10 July 2008. Web. 26 Nov. 2013. <http://www.oprah.com/oprahradio/Big-Families_1>.

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