Second Child Postponement: sociological accounts€¦ · 3 .5 4 .5 5 Mónica João . The Double Postponement | Final Seminar 20th

The Double Postponement | Final Seminar

20th March 2015 | ICS-ULisboa | Lisbon

Second Child Postponement: sociological accounts

Gender (In)equality and Transition to the Second Child in Dual-earner Couples

David Cruz, ICS-ULisboa



Fertility

Transition to the second child

Household Work

Women are still the main

responsible for care and chores

Paid Work

High rate of women employment

(full-time work) and gender

wage gap



Proportion (%) of women with at least one and two children's in PT

(at the end of reproductive life)

91 87 87 86

71

56 51

44

0

20

40

60

80

100

1981 1991 2001 2009

One children Two children’s

Statistical Source: Human Fertility Database



Activity Rate (%) by Sex and Age Group

(Portugal, 1992-2013)

70

75

80

85

90

95

10019

92

19

93

19

94

19

95

19

96

19

97

19

98

19

99

20

00

20

01

20

02

20

03

20

04

20

05

20

06

20

07

20

08

20

09

20

10

20

11

20

12

20

13

M 25-34 M 35-44 W 25-34 W 35-44

Statistical Source: Statistics Portugal



+ 3.4 hours Paid Work

Men more than women (2012) Statistical Source: Eurostat, Labour Force Survey.

+ 14 hours Household Work

Women more than men (2011) Statistical Source: Third European Quality of Life Survey, 2007-2011.

91% Leave for the care of children

Women's (2012) Statistical Source: Statistics Portugal.

85% Extended Parental Leave

Women's (2012) Statistical Source: Statistics Portugal.



12 Individuals and 6 Couples (first

partnerships and one step-family)

Range between 34 and 46 years

of age

Lisbon Metropolitan

Area





The Double Postponement

Men and women coping with childbearing

intentions in their late 30s and early 40s



1. Inequality and Disagreement

“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, 35)

- Reproductive decision-making process disagreement since

early childbearing intentions;

- Women are more likely to be in disagreement to a second

child, even in a new partnership;



1. Inequality and Disagreement

- Dual-earner couples and full-time workers, but unequal

wage and professional achievement;

- Men's low participation in childcare;

- Housemaid or relatives availability reduces women's

burden.

♀ ♂

1 .5 2 .5 3 .5 4 .5 5 • • ▼ ▼

Maria Paulo



2. Equality and Receptiveness

“I have a friend who doesn’t want to be a father.

Why people make simple things so complicated? If even cavemen raise their children in a cave, nowadays

we can do it too.” (Mário, 35)

- Reproductive decision-making process agreement since

early childbearing intentions;

- Late transition to parenthood and male partner older;

- Transition to the second child desired and planned by both

partners;



2. Equality and Receptiveness

- Dual-earner couples and full-time workers, highly educated

women and professional achievement;

- Men's participation in childcare and house tasks.

♀ ♂

1 .5 2 .5 3 .5 4 .5 5 • • ▼ ▼

Sara Mário



3. One and Done (Equality and Acceptance)

“You see… he has changed. He began to

participate more, he became more dynamic. He is more into things… the housework, the expenses. And I became aware of his support… I realize now that he is there for

me. I feel that if I need…” (Monica, 35)

- Early transition to parenthood;

- Low education qualifications level and low income

household;

- Acceptance of the financial difficulties of have a two child

family;



3. One and Done (Equality and Acceptance)

- Participation in childcare and housework or “man in

trouble”;

- Grandparents/relatives availability importance.

♀ ♂

1 .5 2 .5 3 .5 4 .5 5 • • ▼ ▼

Mónica João



4. Equality and Uncertainty

“When I lived with L. [ex-spouse] we didn’t talk

too much about have or don’t have children’s. Our relationship didn’t… we weren’t interested on having children. (…) In my point of view, I didn’t want children’s because... I'm a bit skeptical about the world and our society. It’s the responsibility

[of having children’s] that scares me!” (Julio, 46)

- Profile often associated with step-families;

- Resistance to transition to the parenthood/second child

being explained by non-conventional factors.



The Double Postponement

Gender (In)equality and Transition to the Second Child in

Dual-earner Couples

[email protected]

http://duploadiamento.wordpress.com/

Documents

Second Child Postponement: sociological accounts€¦ · 3 .5 4 .5 5 Mónica João . The Double Postponement | Final Seminar 20th