Essay On Family Size

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Introduction China has a strong anti-natal social policy, restricting most families to just one child (Jian, 2013). Russia and France celebrate larger families. In Russia, the “Order of Parental Glory” was reinstated to encourage childbearing and healthy parenting; families with four or more children are eligible (Elder, 2009). In France, social benefits increase as a family grows (for example, when a family has six children, there is a 75 percent discount for the state rail card), and a mother who has born eight children is eligible for the “Medal of the French Family” (The Economist, 2008). The United States government veers in neither direction, but nevertheless, norms regarding family size exist. Looking at the perceived ideal family …show more content…

Cultural emphasis on self-fulfillment and individualism may influence parents away from the demands of parenting a large family (Morgan, 2003, p. 593). Increased career opportunities for women and the availability combine with the availability and acceptability of contraception to limit family size as well as the increased availability and acceptability of the use of daycare facilitates women working outside the home and prioritizing that over a large family and stay-at-home mothering (Macleod, 2013, …show more content…

However, church attendance is more strongly associated with the ideal number than is denomination (Adsera, 2006, p. 283). Women who describe religion as “very important” have higher fertility than women for whom religion is “somewhat important” or not important (Hayford and Morgan, 2008, p. 1179). . Impact of Mental Images and Schemas of Family Life Individuals form mental representations of family life and of oneself as a parent. These mental schemas are attached to values that affect one’s actions. Bachrach and Morgan indicate that neural networks are affected by the mental schemas, linking fertility intention and behavior more closely. Environmental influences affect the development of the schemas as well as the actions stemming from them. Understanding reproductive choices requires understanding the forces which shaped one’s view of family life and parenthood (2013, pp. 473, 477). Discussion Current

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