b07rn13 – the challenges of family transitions in times of crisis
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Waiting for better days... Couples’ negotiating the transition to the 2 nd child Vanessa Cunha David Cruz University of Lisbon (ICS-UL) . b07RN13 – The Challenges of Family Transitions in Times of Crisis. The research project. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
ESA 11th Conference: Crisis, Critique and Change
28-31 August 2013 | University of Turin | Italy
Waiting for better days... Couples’ negotiating the transition to the 2nd child
Vanessa CunhaDavid Cruz
University of Lisbon (ICS-UL)
b07RN13 – The Challenges of Family Transitions in Times of Crisis
ESA 11th Conference: Crisis, Critique and Change
28-31 August 2013 | University of Turin | Italy
The research project
Title The double postponement: men and women coping with childbearing intentions in their late 30s and early 40s
Timeline 2012-2014 (30 months)
Institutions ICS-Univ. Lisbon (host) & CIDEHUS-Univ. Évora (participant)
Team Vanessa Cunha (coord.), Lia Pappámikail, David Cruz | ICS-UL Maria Filomena Mendes, Rui Dias| CIDEHUS-UÉ
Consultants Carmen Leccardi | University Milan-BicoccaMaria Rita Testa | Vienna Institute of Demography
Funding FCT (PEst-OE/SADG/LA0013/2011)
Website http://duploadiamento.wordpress.com/
ESA 11th Conference: Crisis, Critique and Change
28-31 August 2013 | University of Turin | Italy
Main Goal: Portray and enlighten 2 childbearing postponements transition to parenthood and transition to the 2nd child
1) Theoretical challengeBringing together 2 scientific backgrounds: sociology and demography
2) Analytical frameworkDeterminants and pathways that are engendering (each) postponement• Crisis and times of uncertainty for childbearing decisions: income loss, job
instability and precariousness, unemployment, retreat of policies and benefits• Cultural drifts regarding childbearing: new requisites (conjugal quality, equal
sharing, parental skills, childbearing rewards…); and childfree ideals3) Research design
Two methodological approaches • Extensive: demographic analysis of Census, micro data on childbirths, surveys • Comprehensive: 60 in-depth interviews with men and women aged 35 and
beyond, single or in a couple (both interviewed separately), childless or with one child
ESA 11th Conference: Crisis, Critique and Change
28-31 August 2013 | University of Turin | Italy
The research background
The reproductive trajectory of the birth cohort 1970-75
Data from the Survey «Family Trajectories and Social Networks» (2009/10)
Research Project Coord. by Karin Wall, 2008-2011, ICS-UL
Reconstitution of the life trajectories of three Portuguese generations:
1935-40, 1950-55, 1970-75
ESA 11th Conference: Crisis, Critique and Change
28-31 August 2013 | University of Turin | Italy
Mean number of childbirths at a given age and at the end of RT, by cohortSource: Survey «FTSN» – Portugal 2009/10
age 25 age 30 age 35 end RT0.00
0.50
1.00
1.50
2.00
2.50
3.00
0.79
1.70
2.29
2.65
0.84
1.46
1.811.98
0.50
1.03
1.32
cohort 1935-40 cohort 1950-55 cohort 1970-75
ESA 11th Conference: Crisis, Critique and Change
28-31 August 2013 | University of Turin | Italy
Postponing the 1st child… childlessness at age 35, by cohort Source: Survey «FTSN» – Portugal 2009/10
1935-40 1950-55 1970-750%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
9%
12%
23%
ESA 11th Conference: Crisis, Critique and Change
28-31 August 2013 | University of Turin | Italy
Postponing the 2nd child… Time-span between the 1st and the 2nd child, by cohort(time-span above 5 years and mean number of years)
Source: Survey «FTSN» – Portugal 2009/10
1935-40 1950-55 1970-753
3.5
4
4.5
5
5.5
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
21%
28%
36%
3.77
4.25
4.93
> 5 years mean
ESA 11th Conference: Crisis, Critique and Change
28-31 August 2013 | University of Turin | Italy
COHORT 1970-75: Parity distribution (number of children) at age 35-40 Source: Survey «FTSN» – Portugal 2009/10
childless22%
1 child35%
2 children31%
3 + children13%
ESA 11th Conference: Crisis, Critique and Change
28-31 August 2013 | University of Turin | Italy
COHORT 1970-75: Late childbearing receptiveness (at age 35-40), by current parity Source: Survey «FTSN» – Portugal 2009/10
2 + children
1 child
childless
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
13%
46%
61%
76%
46%
13%
11%
8%
26%
Receptive Not Receptive DK
ESA 11th Conference: Crisis, Critique and Change
28-31 August 2013 | University of Turin | Italy
From 1 to 2: the difficult step? COHORT 1970-75: Reasons for postponing the transition to the 2nd child
Crisis and uncertain times for childbearing: economic load, insecurity and work & family
life balanceFinancial worries 78%High cost of education 76%Job instability 58%Lack of public support 57%Professional life too demanding 51%Lack of family support 47%Personal and family life ok, a child would disturb 24%
“New” conjugal and parental requisites for childbearing and childfree ideals
1st child still very young 44%Parenthood was not a goal in life 30%Partner’s opposition 19%Children disturb couple's intimacy 17%Lack of partner OR not the right partner 9%Problems in couple's relation 4%Parenthood not a very positive experience 4%Problems with 1st child (difficult, handicapped) 1%
Inner and childbearing postponement disadvantages: Psychological, biological, health
Fertility problems 14%Feel too old for childbearing 8%Uncomfortable with going through pregnancy/delivery (only women) 5%Health problems 3%
ESA 11th Conference: Crisis, Critique and Change
28-31 August 2013 | University of Turin | Italy
COHORT 1970-75: Disclosing the gender gapmale severe postponement and late childbearing higher receptiveness
Childlessness at age 35 Receptives (at age 35-40), by current parity
women
men
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35%
17%
30%
2 + children
1 child
childless
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%
5%
43%
54%
22%
51%
66%
ESA 11th Conference: Crisis, Critique and Change
28-31 August 2013 | University of Turin | Italy
Couples’ negotiating the transition to the 2nd childMaria & Paulo: a case study
ESA 11th Conference: Crisis, Critique and Change
28-31 August 2013 | University of Turin | Italy
Maria & Paulo: both aged 35, married, a 5 year-old daughter
18 25 30 35 yrs. old
Transition to parenthood (30)
Beginning of professional life (17)
Entry into university (18)
Marriage (27)
Beginning current
relationship (25)
Professional experience (22)
Foundation of own business (32)
Return to full-time employment (31)
Leaving high education
18 25 30 35 yrs. old
End of previous relationship (24)
Cohabiting experience (21-22)
ESA 11th Conference: Crisis, Critique and Change
28-31 August 2013 | University of Turin | Italy
Negotiating the 1st child willingness vs. ambivalence
It was Paulo who raised the issue after we were married (…): “let’s have children”! We began to
talk frankly about it and we realized that I was not very open to the idea. He was more willing
to have children. Therefore, at some point we had to decide (…), because I was 29, going into
the 30s… it’s the ideal age to have the 1st child.(Maria)
Maria was always afraid of everything. For buying the house she said she was afraid (…). The
marriage, it was really a consequence… she didn’t talk about it, but I asked her to marry me
and she said yes. And having children, I was also the one who said it was time to have a child.
She didn’t think that way, but she said: “I trust you, let’s have a child”. There it is… taking a
position. I use to say that Maria makes all the decisions on a daily basis, while I make the
long-term decisions.(Paulo)
ESA 11th Conference: Crisis, Critique and Change
28-31 August 2013 | University of Turin | Italy
Requisites for childbearingmaternal calling, conjugal quality, (perceived) parental skills
I wasn´t like my daughter, who is with the dolls around all the time and calls them
children and has lots of children! I had colleagues and friends whose dream was to
have children, a boy and a girl and so on... I was never like that.
Paulo was what I conceive of as a person up to be the father of my children. For his
character, for his way of being, for the relationship we have. I thought that he
would be the ideal person… the ideal person to be the father of my child.(Maria)
ESA 11th Conference: Crisis, Critique and Change
28-31 August 2013 | University of Turin | Italy
Negotiating the 2nd child 2nd child = less conjugal (and parental) quality?
Obviously there will be less time for the couple’s relation (…). Laura can be
affected as well, isn’t it? Because, at this moment, she has all the attention
(…). When she was born, Maria was too much focused on the baby. One of
my worries is that if we have a second child, she will probably be very
engaged again. And I will stay aside. And I think that I will probably have
to compensate Laura with some [additional] affection.
(Paulo)
ESA 11th Conference: Crisis, Critique and Change
28-31 August 2013 | University of Turin | Italy
Negotiating the 2nd child (other) personal fulfillment vs. (own) family project
My idea always was to have 3 children. I come from a family of 3 (…). But here we go…
she is receptive, but she is not receptive. There is always a doubt. But at this
moment there is also the thesis. If she gets pregnant now, it would be like throwing
the work into the garbage (…). Having a child can’t castrate Maria. There is Maria’s
personal fulfillment (…). But time runs against us, because our capacity to conceive
is about to end. Women can have children until 40, some until 35, some others until
45… But it is in this stage that it can end.
When 2 people disagree in this kind of position, obviously it may cause some damage.
But things have to be faced. And there must be mutual respect.(Paulo)
ESA 11th Conference: Crisis, Critique and Change
28-31 August 2013 | University of Turin | Italy
Negotiating the 2nd child ambivalence, postponing for better days & childbearing pressure
Paulo already said to me: “Now this decision is more yours than mine (…). Now you
have to have the final word”.
It affects me the opinion of people that, at age 45, have only one child and wanted to
have 2, and that say they regret it and they should had have the 2nd (…). They all
say: “If you are waiting for better days, they won’t come. It will be worse and
worse”. And I end up thinking about what people say. If there is the will to give
Laura a brother, it should be as soon as possible.
(Maria)
ESA 11th Conference: Crisis, Critique and Change
28-31 August 2013 | University of Turin | Italy
Requisites for childbearing childbearing rewards, gender balance in family life
I’m afraid of having a restless child, the opposite of Laura, who would give us the sort
of problems that we wouldn’t be able to cope with, making things more difficult.
He doesn’t feel the need [to drive] and he hasn’t get realized realize yet the need of
having the driving license for his family. And he is also a bit indulgent, since he is
aware that taking the driving license, I’ll ask him to do certain things that he
doesn’t do in the present.
[For having other child] our family engine should be revised… (…) No way to have
another child without his driving license! I would be at the hospital giving birth and
who would take Laura to school? (Maria)
ESA 11th Conference: Crisis, Critique and Change
28-31 August 2013 | University of Turin | Italy
A difficult step gender imbalance, job instability and uncertainty in times of crisis
Rationally, I don’t know if it will be possible [to have the 2nd child]. There will have to
be a change in what I do [professionally], because although I love what I do, it’s not
a stable thing.
Thinking about Paulo, he is the main breadwinner, we are dependent on him and we
shouldn’t be. I think that a couple shouldn’t be dependent on one of the partners.
Both should contribute and it should be possible to survive if one fails. And that
doesn’t happen in our cause. If Paulo fails, I don’t know what will happen to us (…).
If with a child it would be difficult, with 2… my God! (…). The way things are
nowadays… This is horrible; it’s incredible how the crisis affects us in such a brutal
way!
(Maria)
ESA 11th Conference: Crisis, Critique and Change
28-31 August 2013 | University of Turin | Italy
TO CONCLUDE: A broad understanding of childbearing postponement and late childbearing intentions and decisions demands…
• Life course: life circumstances and events (unemployment, divorce…).
• Gender: men’s viewpoints and role; gender gap on fertility agenda. • Conjugal negotiation: imbalances in private and public sphere,
power relations, mutual influence.
• Social imbalance: uneven childbearing chances in Portuguese society reinforced by the deepening of the crisis (unemployment, public policy retreat…) and uncertainty.
ESA 11th Conference: Crisis, Critique and Change
28-31 August 2013 | University of Turin | Italy
Waiting for better days... Couples’ negotiating the transition to the 2nd child
http://duploadiamento.wordpress.com/