Becoming a parent in Europe.

Abstract

This paper presents a theoretical discussion of the issues involved in choosing to become a parent drawing from and contrasting several disciplinary perspectives. It elaborates both pronatalist forces and a series of constraints upon becoming a parent involving biology time money ideas and security. The main demographic changes which occur in the transition to parenthood are discussed including timing childlessness and partnership context. Judgements about whether and when to become a parent are discussed in terms of the key elements of partnership education and training employment housing and security. Gender differences and the consequences of becoming a parent with respect to employment and the domestic domain are also discussed. The frameworks and ideas developed from the theoretical discussion are then applied in sketching the changing patterns of becoming a parent in Europe since the 1930s and of current regional variations. Important features include the emergence of and changes to welfare states the contraceptive revolution gender roles and employment patterns.

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