Demand For Children Research Articles

Community Context, Women's Natal Kin Ties, and Demand for Children: Macro‐Micro Linkages in Social Demography1

Abstract Recent research in many areas of social demography has begun to address the implications of cultural, social, and economic context for individual–level preferences and behavior. We expand on this theme by arguing that multiple levels of context may simultaneously direct individual–level strategies. We focus on the relationship between women's natal kin ties and their demand for children, a substantive area in which context is thought to be particularly important. We use a combination of ethnographic and survey data to measure contextual characteristics, women's ties to their natal families, and couples' fertility preferences and behavior. Our results demonstrate that particularly supportive relationships with natal kin have more influence on fertility preferences and behavior than contact with natal kin, although both dimensions are important. The results also show that even within the same cultural context, radically different community environments can produce opposite consequences of ties to natal kin.

The Demanding Woman Poet: On Resisting Marina Tsvetaeva

Marina Tsvetaeva's poetry, like Sylvia Plath's, dramatizes issues of primary psychological and sexual experience, issues that many critics have taken to be purely biographical. The openly apostrophic character of Tsvetaeva's writing has generated critical judgments about her character. Tsvetaeva's address, in both her lyrics and her letters, is embarrassing—not, as Jonathan Culler maintains, because apostrophe never fulfills its claims but, as Barbara Johnson argues, because it is a naked expression of need. Johnson's Lacanian conception of apostrophe as the child's demand illuminates Tsvetaeva's writing and helps to explain why Tsvetaeva has been charged with being a bad mother. However, Tsvetaeva's practice suggests that far from being contradictory impulses, demanding and giving can hardly be distinguished—a confusion that is reflected in the ambivalent responses her work has inspired.

Off the Road: Alternative Views of Rebellion, Resistance and 'The Beats'

In the summer of 1990, I drove to western France with my two young children. 'Born to run', our favourite Springsteen track, was blasting out and Carolyn Cassady's (1990) book Off the road was in my luggage among the piles of clothes, towels, toys and other belongings that seemed essential at the time to displace and recreate home in a French gite. As I read Cassady's recollections of life with the beats, in snatched moments between dealing with my children's demands for time, attention, ice creams and coke, I remembered the shock of empathy and sympathy I felt with her bittersweet recollections of staying at home waiting for her men to return. In one sense, I was away from home that summer but I seemed to have brought all the responsibilities along with me. The book stayed in my mind for the next couple of years but when Cresswell's (1993) article on mobility as resistance was published I decided to re-read both Kerouac (1991/1957) On the road and Cassady's Off the road. This paper is the result of my reactions to both books. It is not a research-based

Development of a Scale to Measure Individual Differences in Children's Trust-Value Basis of Friendship

Abstract The purpose of this study was to develop a scale to assess individual differences in children's ascription to the trust-value basis of friendship. A sample of 130 children (70 girls and 60 boys) from 5th and 6th grades were administered the Chumship Checklist, and the newly constructed Trust-Value Friendship (T-V F) Scale, which measures children's desire for trust-value in forming friendships (friendship preferences) and children's demand for trust-value in existing friends (actual friendships). A subsample of children (103) was administered the T-V F Scale 1 month later. Factor analyses of the T-V F Scale yielded three factors for both friendship preferences and actual friendships scales: (a) trust confirming; (b) trust violating; and (c) school trust. Subscales of the T-V F Scale that were constructed to correspond to the factors demonstrated acceptable internal consistency and test–retest reliability. In support of the validity of the subscales, school trust for friendship preferences and trust confirming for actual friendships were correlated with the Chumship Checklist. The social antecedents and consequences of individual differences in children's ascription to the trust-value basis of friendship are discussed.

Aspectos jurídicos do transexualismo

The greater part the research for the elaboration of this thesis found its sources in the laws, jurisprudence, authorities and scattered studies of forensic doctors, judges and United States experts in psychology, psychiatry, urology and endocrinology. They are all unanimous in emphasizing the complexity of the matter in view of the insufficient knowledge to face it, the repetition of the cases and the almost inexistence of adequate solutions therefor. In a society such as the one in which we presently live, where everybody claims for his rights, rather than claiming for the respect for the rights of others, where the irresponsibility is the governing rule, where the escape to the purely personal pleasures is a common place, which has no perspectives for the future and thus, is not concerned with anything that exceeds its immediate needs, men turn to the only thing that really matters, which is their mental development, in the belief that the mental health means the destruction of inhibitions and the never ending celebration of the ego. They attribute to sex values that are not inherent thereto and all claim now for solutions to their problems which, in this incessant pendular movement, become confusing and certainty thereon. But, while facing this present social disorders, the society is imperatively called upon to present solutions to the emergent problems and to establish their limits. In fact, the society, through its judicial organs, is called upon to present a solution for the problems of the transsexuals. This egocentric society, adherent to the principle of absolute freedom, is in some countries acting like some parents who, in order to obviate their children's continuous demands and wishes, make unreasonable concessions with the sole purpose of escaping from further pressure put upon them. Thus, there are granted to an annoying group some concessions under the form of law which allow them to change their name and sex in the Public Records, close the eyes for the reassignment surgery and, as a consequence, create an army of eunuchs, whose mental and moral problems continue unresolved. Because the individuals under examination, in our opinion, suffer from mental and personality disorders which are in the border line between the neurosis and the psychosis. The psychoanalysts acknowledge their inability to cure such disorders and do not consider such individuals as victims of mental illnesses. But, it may be argued, what is the extension of such psychological knowledge? Couldn't it be deficient? It is our opinion that every possible medical treatment should be made available to such individuals, but without ever accepting the reassignment surgery, which would be the fatal point of no return. Therefore, laws should be enacted, defining as a crime any act of mutilation, practiced either by the individual himself or by a third party - the doctor -, both of them being liable therefore. And, furthermore, prohibiting the alterations of Public Records.

Economic Utility and Demand for Children - Reply

Professor K.S. Srikantan has four major observations about my paper (this Journal, 1988): (i) the theoretical framework used is not accepted in the literature, (ii) the theoretical model is weak in the Indian context, (iii) in the empirical analysis certain variables are misinterpreted, and (iv) the conclusion of the paper is unacceptable. I will start with the importance of the theoretical framework.

Evolution and the Demand for Children

An interpretation of fertility transition is offered applying facts and theories of evolution to concepts and relationships in the literature on fertility determinants. The discussion is centered on a kin hypothesis involving 5 propositions: 1) Resource insolvency brought on by the birth of children has been an important selective pressure throughout human evolution and as a result humans have evolved to strive for social and economic success. 2) In traditional societies extended kinship networks function to disperse the costs of child rearing among an array of relatives. 3) The pursuit of social and economic success in societies undergoing modernization leads to the breakdown of these kinship networks; simultaneously there is a tremendous increase in the complexity and number of routes to social and economic success. 4) Following the breakdown of extended kinship networks child rearing costs are concentrated on parents thus potentially constraining the pursuit of social and economic success. 5) Also following the breakdown of extended kinship networks resources formerly controlled by the kin group (usually its elders) come under the control of young adults enabling them to concentrate resources on a small number of children. Once some parents concentrate their resources on small numbers of children other parents must follow suit if their offspring are to be socially competitive. Preliminary support for the kin hypothesis is established with data from the demographic and anthropological literature. (Authors) (Summaries in ENG FRE SPA)

Family Structure, Implicit Contracts, and the Demand for Children in Southern Nigeria

This article attempts to illustrate how 3 types of family interaction (implicit contracts) affect reproductive goals and fertility behavior in West Africa and to demonstrate how the characteristics of West African family organization influence both the fertility decision making process and outcomes. First collective versus individualistic approaches to reproductive decision-making are examined. This is followed by a discussion of 3 implicit family contracts and the demand for children. The 3 contracts consist of the parent-child contract and reproductive intentions the husband-wife contract and fertility behavior and the spouse-extended family contract and fertility goals. Survey data collected in Southern Nigeria involves information regarding ideal family-size preferences desired fertility intentions ideal number of children desired number of children expected employment of children and expected old-age support. Finally population policy conclusions are offered based on an analysis of the data. (authors modified)

Economic Utility and the Demand for Children: A Theoretical and Empirical Analysis

In every society children provide various utilities, economic and non-economic, to parents. within the domain of economic utility, children provide consumption, income and old age security utilities (Leibenstein, 1957). Parents are motivated to bear and rear children because they demand these utilities from children and they benefit from having children.

Determinants of Contraceptive Use in Rural Bangladesh: The Demand for Children, Supply of Children, and Costs of Fertility Regulation

Using World Fertility Survey data from the year 1978 the mechanism of the demand for children supply of children and cost of fertility regulations influencing the likelihood of contraceptive use in rural Bangladesh was examined. The sample size was 2636 women with 0+ parity of which 1817 had a parity of 2+. Demand for children (as measured by a question discerning the number of children desired or alternatively fatalistic attitudes) child supply (the potential number of children as expressed by natural fertility determinants) costs of fertility regulation (market as well as psychological) and socioeconomic variables were examined for their influence on contraceptive use. Age at 1st birth 2nd birth interval 2ndary sterility and child mortality reduced the likelihood of contraceptive use. The distance to family planning clinic was the only cost of regulation variable which consistently showed a negative effect on the likelihood of contraceptive use. The effects of most of the supply of children variables and the demand for children variables remain the same even after controlling for socioeconomic variables.

Psykoterapi vid ångesttillstånd hos barn

Artikeln grundar sig på ett föredrag om hur ångesttillstånd hos barn kan behandlas. Både förebyggande aspekter. dvs tidig intervention i familjer. dår spädbarnet företer spänningstillstånd, belyses såväl som familjeterapeutiska och individuallerapeuliska behandlingsmetoder med barnet och dennes familj. Artikeln är av översiktlig karaktär och beskriver olika insatsnivåer av behandling och olika angreppssätt på problem och åtgärder.Anxiety in children can be an adequate behaviour, reaction, state in certain situations and because of special experiences related to the child's developmental level and his environment and life-circumstances. Severe anxiety states can be either reactions to earlier traumas or aggravated delayed reactions because of tensions in the family unable of handling the child's demands during extended periods or in special situations. It can also depend on certain patterns in the family creating an unsecure atmosphere around the child, who will react by building up anxiety-reactions to certain situations or react with generalized and often diffuse anxiety and uneasiness showing up in different symtoms. The treatment is depending on causality, degree of difficulty and the motivation and ability in the family in taking part in a treatment. Preventious interventions -more and more common nowadays - family-therapeutic models and different individually adapted treatment models vis-à-vis the child are described. The importance of careful diagnostics is pointed out.

: Determinants of Fertility in Developing Countries, Volume 1: Supply and Demand for Children . Rodolfo A. Bulatao, Ronald D. Lee.

: Determinants of Fertility in Developing Countries, Volume 1: Supply and Demand for Children . Rodolfo A. Bulatao, Ronald D. Lee.

BOOK REVIEWS

Book Reviewed in this article: Redundant Spaces in Cities and Regions? Studies in Industrial Decline and Social Change. J. Anderson, S. Duncan and R. Hudson. eds. The Social Consequences and Challenges of New Agricultural Technologies. Gigi M. Berardi and Charles C. Geisler, eds. Determinants of Fertility in Developing Countries, Vol. I, Supply and Demand for Children. Rodolfo A. Bultao and Ronald D. Lee, eds. Computer Mapping: Progress in the‘80s. James R. Carter. Washington: Colonial Africa. A. J. Christopher. Geography of the Soviet Union. J. P. Cole. Chicago Mapmakers, Essays on the Rise of the City's Map Trade. Michael P. Conzen, ed. Changes in the Land: Indians, Colonists and the Ecology of New England. William Cronon. Mizner's Florida: American Resort Architecture. Donald W. Curl. Geographical Studies on the Soviet Union: Essays in Honor of Chauncy D. Harris. George Demko and Roland J. Fuchs, eds. Fluvial Hydrology. S. Lawrence Dingman. Pueblo Indian Water Rights: Struggle For a Precious Resource. Charles T. DuMars, Marilyn O'Leary and Albert E. Utton. Women in the Cities of Asia: Migration and Urban Adaptation. James T. Fawcett, Siew-Ean Khoo, and Peter C. Smith, eds. America's National Parks and Their Keepers. Ronald A. Foresta. Neighborhood Revitalization and the Postindustrial City. Dennis E. Gale. China in Canada: A Dialogue on Resources and Development. R. Louis Gentilcore, ed. China: The 80s Era. Norton Ginsburg and Bernard A. Lalor, eds. Boulder, CO: Global Resources: Challenges of Interdependence. Martin I. Glassner, ed. River Networks Texas: A Geography. Terry G. Jordan with John L. Bean, Jr. and William M. Holmes. The American Frontier: An Archaeological Study of Settlement Pattern and Process. Kenneth E. Lewis. Water Resources, Geography and Law. Olen Paul Matthews. A Field Guide to American Houses. Virginia and Lee McAlester. Population: Patterns, Dynamics, and Prospects. James L. Newman and Gordon E. Matzke. Wood, Brick, and Stone, The North American Settlement Landscape, Vol. 1: Houses. Allen G. Noble. Historical Analysis in Geography. William Norton. The Displaced Worker and Community Response: Case Study of Portsmouth, Scioto County, Ohio. H. Milton Patton and Janet W. Patton. Disaster Management: Warning Response and Community Relocation. Ronald W. Perry and Alvin H. Muskatel. The Anthropology of Space: Explorations into the Natural Philosophy and Semantics of the Navajo. Rik Pinxten, Ingrid van Dooren, and Frank Harvey. What STYLE Is It? A Guide To American Architecture. John C. Poppeliers, S. Allen Chambers, Jr., and Nancy B. Schwartz. Appalachia: A Regional Geography—Land, People and Development. Karl Raitz and Richard Ulack. An Introduction to Urban Geography. John R. Short. Ford, A Village in the West Highlands of Scotland: A Case Study of Repopulation and Social Change in a Small Community. John B. Stephenson. Income and Jobs: USA Diagnosing the Reality. George Sternlieb and James W. Hughes. Weather and Climate of the Antarctic. W. Schwerdtfeger. History and Ecology: Studies of the Grassland, James C. Malin. Robert P. Swierenga, ed. Optimal Control of Spatial Systems. K. C. Tan and R. J. Bennett. Social Science and Revolutions. Stan Taylor. The Global Textile Industry. Brian Toyne, Jeffrey S. Arpan, David A. Ricks, Terence A. Shimp and Andy Barnett. Integrated Water Development: Water Use and Conservation Practice in Western Colorado. James L. Wescoat, Jr. Proceedings of the First International Symposium on Maps and Graphics for the Visually Handicapped. Joseph W. Wiedel, ed.

Adolescent Drug Use-Reply

In Reply .—Full response to the issues raised by Mr Rosenbloom would require more space than has been allocated. Two of his many points are especially important and I will limit my brief comments to them. First, is the statement that informed self-determination is a right not to be denied. This statement seems to assume that each individual may determine for himself what constitutes an adequate knowledge base and having done so has an absolute right to act. I think otherwise and feel strongly that this opinion, although widely held, is potentially very dangerous. Does a 4-year-old who decides he knows how to cross a street have the right to do so? I believe not. Controls are not always to the liking of the preschooler or the adolescent but loving parents must balance their child's demands for freedom and rights against their own knowledge of risks. Intergeneration conflict about issues

Mirroring and autonomy: The dual tasks of mothers

Theexperience of being a mother, of being the developmental partner for the pre-oedipal child, is complex and demanding. A woman must learn to balance her own needs and identity as a person with the child's need for appropriate merging and distancing. The child's own developmental push requires a constant shifting in the mother's balance between herself and the child. This article explores some of the factors involved in the mother's experience of her dual task, and some of the ways in which the mother's development as a person is reciprocally related to her child's developmental demands.

Father-Child Interactions in a Shopping Mall: A Naturalistic Study of Father Role Behavior

Abstract Two hundred and fifty-three mother-father-child triads were unobtrusively observed within a community shopping mall to investigate the nature of naturally occurring father-child interactions. In 91% of fathers' active responses to children's demands, fathers behaved in ways categorized as instrumental or controlling. Affectional or expressive behaviors were observed only 9% of the time. Analysis of patterns of behaviors suggests that ignoring and controlling behaviors were used selectively to promote a relationship consistent with traditional sex-role definitions of behavior. Father-child interactions occurred more frequently when the mother was absent, but the pattern of behavior was not affected by mothers' presence or by the age of the child. The pattern of father-child interactions was affected by the behavior setting and the sex of the child.

Black‐White Differentials in the Demand for Children

Using the 1970 National Fertility Survey, a multiple regression model was used to determine the effects of selected socioeconomic variables on the number of intended children by black and white families. The study also examined the extent to which the black‐white differentials in the demand for children can be accounted for by underlying differences in socioeconomic characteristics between the two racial groups.Results of the study indicate that differences in the socioeconomic characteristics between black and white families explained 50 percent of the difference in the intended number of children by the two racial groups.

The Demand for Children in a "Natural Fertility" Population

The paper is concerned with two theories that proport to explain fertility variations In developing countries. The first of these theories is based on supply or natural fertility considerations while the second looks to (the underlying) costs and benefits of children as one Source explanation for fertility differences. These theories indicate that demand consideration do explain some of the systematic variation in fertility even among "noncontracepting" populations.

On the Care and Handling of Regression Specifications in Fertility Research

Economists, sociologists and demographers must often attempt to answer important questions with data not well suited to the problem at hand. One example that crops up frequently in socio-economic-demographic literature is the use of samples of women, whose ages span the entire fecund period, to study the effects of couples' characteristics on "completed" fertility, or on the demand for children. In this case, the usual procedure is to control either for age or for duration of marriage, and to assume that issues concerned with timing and spacing of children can be ignored. Under this assumption, differences in the level of the stock of children among families at any point in time (any age) bear a one-to-one correspondence to differences in completed fertility observed at the end of the fertile period. In this paper, we explore some of the pitfalls researchers may encounter when using data with this characteristic, especially in the absence of exact knowledge of the functional form of the relationship between age or duration of marriage and other variables thought to affect actual fertility.

The Demand for Children in Farm Households

A multiperiod household model of fertility behavior applicable to rural-agricultural settings in which the pecuniary as well as the psychic returns from children are significant is formulated. Impl...