Transcript Childbearing in Canada Today - Redeemer Christian High School

Childbearing in
Canada Today
Changing Social System
The Canadian social system has
undergone significant social changes in
the past 50 years
-changes in social norms regarding
conception, sex roles and equality of
women – decline in fertility rates
Falling marriage rates, rates of
cohabitation increased
-Divorce rates are stable, but high
-people are postponing getting married
and having babies
Wide use of contraception has made
‘planning’ of when to have, or, not to
have children more widely accepted
The New Attitudes?
Couples can now choose when and if
to have children
Children no longer valued
economically, but rather for the
emotional fulfillment of the parents
Children have become the ‘completion’
of the married couples’ relationship
Social Exchange Theory
Explanation
Couples are looking to receive
something back from their children in
exchange for the time, money and
energy they put into raising them
Parents are looking for emotional
fulfillment and love from the child in
exchange for the caregiving they
provide
Women and the Workforce
1. Women and the workforce – women are
continuing to work after marriage and even
after having children
some as an economic necessity, others
because of their desire to pursue their
careers as well
Advances in Medical Science
1. A major shift is that of sterilization of one of the
individuals after the desired number of children have
been reached
2. Contraception – parents can control and time the
spacing of children, if desired
3. Contraception has also lead to a reduction in the
number of unwanted pregnancies
4. Advances in Reproductive
Technology - many alternatives for
couples who can not have their own
‘biological’ children – artificial
insemination, in vitro fertilization,
surrogacy etc
5. Better Prenatal care – babies are
being born healthier (see chart on pg.
278). Canada’s infant mortality rate is
declining
6. Genetic testing
Divorce
Because of society’s increasing
distrust of marriage, and the fear of
divorce, couples are carefully
considering the addition of children
Many couples do not have the
good ‘role models’ of their own
families
Lack of Support for Parents
Is society in general supportive of children
and families?
According to Benjamin and Rachel
Schlesinger – society should do more to
support parents – does Canadian society
really value children, if their parents are not
supported more financially?
Biblical Mandate
Bible states that God created humans
in His image, male and female, and told
them to “increase and multiply”, to fill
and subdue the earth.”
The Bible also recognizes our sexual
desires and need to have children – is it
more than ‘instinct ’, such as the
‘evolutionary’ point of view suggests?
Is there a created ‘order’ of the timing of
when these things should happen?
Homework
Page 300 #1,3 and 5