Public Perceptions of the Ideal Number of Children for Contemporary Families

Demographic and family dynamics have been influenced by the recent downturn in average family size. This research examines perceptions of the ideal size for contemporary families and beliefs regarding factors which have contributed to families' decisions to have fewer children. Findings reveal...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Population and environment 1987-09, Vol.9 (3), p.160-172
Main Authors: West, Kirsten K., Morgan, Leslie A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Birth control
Childlessness
Children
Demography
Family
Family size
Female fertility
Fertility
Ideal numbers
Marital status
Normativity
Size
United States
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
cited_by cdi_FETCH-LOGICAL-c343t-73e537e5f068e166765bb95b8bc83099ccb3e0db62e0807674769d7ebbef99273
cites cdi_FETCH-LOGICAL-c343t-73e537e5f068e166765bb95b8bc83099ccb3e0db62e0807674769d7ebbef99273
container_end_page 172
container_issue 3
container_start_page 160
container_title Population and environment
container_volume 9
creator West, Kirsten K.
Morgan, Leslie A.
description Demographic and family dynamics have been influenced by the recent downturn in average family size. This research examines perceptions of the ideal size for contemporary families and beliefs regarding factors which have contributed to families' decisions to have fewer children. Findings reveal that the two child family is the overwhelming standard chosen by respondents, and that this preference holds for virtually all demographic categories. Three of five reasons offered for smaller families today (expense of children, wives working and better birth control) were viewed as important by over 85% of those sampled.
doi_str_mv 10.1007/BF01259306
format article
fullrecord <record><control><sourceid>jstor_proqu</sourceid><recordid>TN_cdi_proquest_miscellaneous_59479525</recordid><sourceformat>XML</sourceformat><sourcesystem>PC</sourcesystem><jstor_id>27503074</jstor_id><sourcerecordid>27503074</sourcerecordid><originalsourceid>FETCH-LOGICAL-c343t-73e537e5f068e166765bb95b8bc83099ccb3e0db62e0807674769d7ebbef99273</originalsourceid><addsrcrecordid>eNqF0E1LxDAQBuAgCq4fF-9CQPAgVCdJkzRHLa4uLLoHPZcmnbJd2mZN2oP_3i4rCl48DQwPLzMvIRcMbhmAvnuYA-PSCFAHZMakFonOGBySGTBjEgBhjslJjBsAUJngM7JcjbZtHF1hcLgdGt9H6ms6rJEuKixb-jJ2FsNul6-btgrY09oHmvt-wG7rQxk-6bzsmrbBeEaO6rKNeP49T8n7_PEtf06Wr0-L_H6ZOJGKIdECpdAo6-kGZEppJa010mbWZQKMcc4KhMoqjpCBVjrVylQarcXaGK7FKbne526D_xgxDkXXRIdtW_box1hIk2ojufwXspRzqTM1was_cOPH0E9PFEyAZhmkICZ1s1cu-BgD1sU2NN3UQMGg2PVf_PY_4cs93sTBhx_JtYQpMRVfptd_AQ</addsrcrecordid><sourcetype>Aggregation Database</sourcetype><iscdi>true</iscdi><recordtype>article</recordtype><pqid>1307180403</pqid></control><display><type>article</type><title>Public Perceptions of the Ideal Number of Children for Contemporary Families</title><source>JSTOR Archival Journals and Primary Sources Collection</source><source>PAIS Index</source><source>Springer LINK Archives</source><creator>West, Kirsten K. ; Morgan, Leslie A.</creator><creatorcontrib>West, Kirsten K. ; Morgan, Leslie A.</creatorcontrib><description>Demographic and family dynamics have been influenced by the recent downturn in average family size. This research examines perceptions of the ideal size for contemporary families and beliefs regarding factors which have contributed to families' decisions to have fewer children. Findings reveal that the two child family is the overwhelming standard chosen by respondents, and that this preference holds for virtually all demographic categories. Three of five reasons offered for smaller families today (expense of children, wives working and better birth control) were viewed as important by over 85% of those sampled.</description><identifier>ISSN: 0199-0039</identifier><identifier>EISSN: 1573-7810</identifier><identifier>DOI: 10.1007/BF01259306</identifier><language>eng</language><publisher>New York: Human Sciences Press</publisher><subject>Birth control ; Childlessness ; Children ; Demography ; Family ; Family size ; Female fertility ; Fertility ; Ideal numbers ; Marital status ; Normativity ; Size ; United States</subject><ispartof>Population and environment, 1987-09, Vol.9 (3), p.160-172</ispartof><rights>Copyright 1987 Human Sciences Press</rights><lds50>peer_reviewed</lds50><woscitedreferencessubscribed>false</woscitedreferencessubscribed><citedby>FETCH-LOGICAL-c343t-73e537e5f068e166765bb95b8bc83099ccb3e0db62e0807674769d7ebbef99273</citedby><cites>FETCH-LOGICAL-c343t-73e537e5f068e166765bb95b8bc83099ccb3e0db62e0807674769d7ebbef99273</cites></display><links><openurl>$$Topenurl_article</openurl><openurlfulltext>$$Topenurlfull_article</openurlfulltext><thumbnail>$$Tsyndetics_thumb_exl</thumbnail><linktopdf>$$Uhttps://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/27503074$$EPDF$$P50$$Gjstor$$H</linktopdf><linktohtml>$$Uhttps://www.jstor.org/stable/27503074$$EHTML$$P50$$Gjstor$$H</linktohtml><link.rule.ids>314,776,780,27842,27901,27902,58213,58446</link.rule.ids></links><search><creatorcontrib>West, Kirsten K.</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Morgan, Leslie A.</creatorcontrib><title>Public Perceptions of the Ideal Number of Children for Contemporary Families</title><title>Population and environment</title><description>Demographic and family dynamics have been influenced by the recent downturn in average family size. This research examines perceptions of the ideal size for contemporary families and beliefs regarding factors which have contributed to families' decisions to have fewer children. Findings reveal that the two child family is the overwhelming standard chosen by respondents, and that this preference holds for virtually all demographic categories. Three of five reasons offered for smaller families today (expense of children, wives working and better birth control) were viewed as important by over 85% of those sampled.</description><subject>Birth control</subject><subject>Childlessness</subject><subject>Children</subject><subject>Demography</subject><subject>Family</subject><subject>Family size</subject><subject>Female fertility</subject><subject>Fertility</subject><subject>Ideal numbers</subject><subject>Marital status</subject><subject>Normativity</subject><subject>Size</subject><subject>United States</subject><issn>0199-0039</issn><issn>1573-7810</issn><fulltext>true</fulltext><rsrctype>article</rsrctype><creationdate>1987</creationdate><recordtype>article</recordtype><sourceid>7TQ</sourceid><recordid>eNqF0E1LxDAQBuAgCq4fF-9CQPAgVCdJkzRHLa4uLLoHPZcmnbJd2mZN2oP_3i4rCl48DQwPLzMvIRcMbhmAvnuYA-PSCFAHZMakFonOGBySGTBjEgBhjslJjBsAUJngM7JcjbZtHF1hcLgdGt9H6ms6rJEuKixb-jJ2FsNul6-btgrY09oHmvt-wG7rQxk-6bzsmrbBeEaO6rKNeP49T8n7_PEtf06Wr0-L_H6ZOJGKIdECpdAo6-kGZEppJa010mbWZQKMcc4KhMoqjpCBVjrVylQarcXaGK7FKbne526D_xgxDkXXRIdtW_box1hIk2ojufwXspRzqTM1was_cOPH0E9PFEyAZhmkICZ1s1cu-BgD1sU2NN3UQMGg2PVf_PY_4cs93sTBhx_JtYQpMRVfptd_AQ</recordid><startdate>19870901</startdate><enddate>19870901</enddate><creator>West, Kirsten K.</creator><creator>Morgan, Leslie A.</creator><general>Human Sciences Press</general><scope>AAYXX</scope><scope>CITATION</scope><scope>ABKTN</scope><scope>AKNXY</scope><scope>HOKLE</scope><scope>HYQOX</scope><scope>JWXEY</scope><scope>K30</scope><scope>PAAUG</scope><scope>PAWHS</scope><scope>PAWZZ</scope><scope>PAXOH</scope><scope>PBHAV</scope><scope>PBQSW</scope><scope>PBYQZ</scope><scope>PCIWU</scope><scope>PCMID</scope><scope>PCZJX</scope><scope>PDGRG</scope><scope>PDWWI</scope><scope>PETMR</scope><scope>PFVGT</scope><scope>PGXDX</scope><scope>PIHIL</scope><scope>PISVA</scope><scope>PJCTQ</scope><scope>PJTMS</scope><scope>PLCHJ</scope><scope>PMHAD</scope><scope>PNQDJ</scope><scope>POUND</scope><scope>PPLAD</scope><scope>PQAPC</scope><scope>PQCAN</scope><scope>PQCMW</scope><scope>PQEME</scope><scope>PQHKH</scope><scope>PQMID</scope><scope>PQNCT</scope><scope>PQNET</scope><scope>PQSCT</scope><scope>PQSET</scope><scope>PSVJG</scope><scope>PVMQY</scope><scope>PZGFC</scope><scope>~P2</scope><scope>~P3</scope><scope>7ST</scope><scope>C1K</scope><scope>SOI</scope><scope>7TQ</scope><scope>DHY</scope><scope>DON</scope></search><sort><creationdate>19870901</creationdate><title>Public Perceptions of the Ideal Number of Children for Contemporary Families</title><author>West, Kirsten K. ; Morgan, Leslie A.</author></sort><facets><frbrtype>5</frbrtype><frbrgroupid>cdi_FETCH-LOGICAL-c343t-73e537e5f068e166765bb95b8bc83099ccb3e0db62e0807674769d7ebbef99273</frbrgroupid><rsrctype>articles</rsrctype><prefilter>articles</prefilter><language>eng</language><creationdate>1987</creationdate><topic>Birth control</topic><topic>Childlessness</topic><topic>Children</topic><topic>Demography</topic><topic>Family</topic><topic>Family size</topic><topic>Female fertility</topic><topic>Fertility</topic><topic>Ideal numbers</topic><topic>Marital status</topic><topic>Normativity</topic><topic>Size</topic><topic>United States</topic><toplevel>peer_reviewed</toplevel><toplevel>online_resources</toplevel><creatorcontrib>West, Kirsten K.</creatorcontrib><creatorcontrib>Morgan, Leslie A.</creatorcontrib><collection>CrossRef</collection><collection>Periodicals Archive Online JSTOR Titles</collection><collection>Periodicals Archive Online Collection 4 (2022)</collection><collection>Periodicals Index Online Segment 22</collection><collection>ProQuest Historical Periodicals</collection><collection>Periodicals Index Online Segment 39</collection><collection>Periodicals Index Online</collection><collection>Primary Sources Access—Foundation Edition (Plan E) - West</collection><collection>Primary Sources Access (Plan D) - International</collection><collection>Primary Sources Access &amp; Build (Plan A) - MEA</collection><collection>Primary Sources Access—Foundation Edition (Plan E) - Midwest</collection><collection>Primary Sources Access—Foundation Edition (Plan E) - Northeast</collection><collection>Primary Sources Access (Plan D) - Southeast</collection><collection>Primary Sources Access (Plan D) - North Central</collection><collection>Primary Sources Access—Foundation Edition (Plan E) - Southeast</collection><collection>Primary Sources Access (Plan D) - South Central</collection><collection>Primary Sources Access &amp; Build (Plan A) - UK / I</collection><collection>Primary Sources Access (Plan D) - Canada</collection><collection>Primary Sources Access (Plan D) - EMEALA</collection><collection>Primary Sources Access—Foundation Edition (Plan E) - North Central</collection><collection>Primary Sources Access—Foundation Edition (Plan E) - South Central</collection><collection>Primary Sources Access &amp; Build (Plan A) - International</collection><collection>Primary Sources Access—Foundation Edition (Plan E) - International</collection><collection>Primary Sources Access (Plan D) - West</collection><collection>Periodicals Index Online Segments 1-50</collection><collection>Primary Sources Access (Plan D) - APAC</collection><collection>Primary Sources Access (Plan D) - Midwest</collection><collection>Primary Sources Access (Plan D) - MEA</collection><collection>Primary Sources Access—Foundation Edition (Plan E) - Canada</collection><collection>Primary Sources Access—Foundation Edition (Plan E) - UK / I</collection><collection>Primary Sources Access—Foundation Edition (Plan E) - EMEALA</collection><collection>Primary Sources Access &amp; Build (Plan A) - APAC</collection><collection>Primary Sources Access &amp; Build (Plan A) - Canada</collection><collection>Primary Sources Access &amp; Build (Plan A) - West</collection><collection>Primary Sources Access &amp; Build (Plan A) - EMEALA</collection><collection>Primary Sources Access (Plan D) - Northeast</collection><collection>Primary Sources Access &amp; Build (Plan A) - Midwest</collection><collection>Primary Sources Access &amp; Build (Plan A) - North Central</collection><collection>Primary Sources Access &amp; Build (Plan A) - Northeast</collection><collection>Primary Sources Access &amp; Build (Plan A) - South Central</collection><collection>Primary Sources Access &amp; Build (Plan A) - Southeast</collection><collection>Primary Sources Access (Plan D) - UK / I</collection><collection>Primary Sources Access—Foundation Edition (Plan E) - APAC</collection><collection>Primary Sources Access—Foundation Edition (Plan E) - MEA</collection><collection>PAO Collection 4</collection><collection>Periodicals Archive Online (PAO)</collection><collection>Environment Abstracts</collection><collection>Environmental Sciences and Pollution Management</collection><collection>Environment Abstracts</collection><collection>PAIS Index</collection><collection>PAIS International</collection><collection>PAIS International (Ovid)</collection><jtitle>Population and environment</jtitle></facets><delivery><delcategory>Remote Search Resource</delcategory><fulltext>fulltext</fulltext></delivery><addata><au>West, Kirsten K.</au><au>Morgan, Leslie A.</au><format>journal</format><genre>article</genre><ristype>JOUR</ristype><atitle>Public Perceptions of the Ideal Number of Children for Contemporary Families</atitle><jtitle>Population and environment</jtitle><date>1987-09-01</date><risdate>1987</risdate><volume>9</volume><issue>3</issue><spage>160</spage><epage>172</epage><pages>160-172</pages><issn>0199-0039</issn><eissn>1573-7810</eissn><abstract>Demographic and family dynamics have been influenced by the recent downturn in average family size. This research examines perceptions of the ideal size for contemporary families and beliefs regarding factors which have contributed to families' decisions to have fewer children. Findings reveal that the two child family is the overwhelming standard chosen by respondents, and that this preference holds for virtually all demographic categories. Three of five reasons offered for smaller families today (expense of children, wives working and better birth control) were viewed as important by over 85% of those sampled.</abstract><cop>New York</cop><pub>Human Sciences Press</pub><doi>10.1007/BF01259306</doi><tpages>13</tpages></addata></record>
fulltext fulltext
identifier ISSN: 0199-0039
ispartof Population and environment, 1987-09, Vol.9 (3), p.160-172
issn 0199-0039
1573-7810
language eng
recordid cdi_proquest_miscellaneous_59479525
source JSTOR Archival Journals and Primary Sources Collection; PAIS Index; Springer LINK Archives
subjects Birth control
Childlessness
Children
Demography
Family
Family size
Female fertility
Fertility
Ideal numbers
Marital status
Normativity
Size
United States
title Public Perceptions of the Ideal Number of Children for Contemporary Families
url http://sfxeu10.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/loughborough?ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&ctx_enc=info:ofi/enc:UTF-8&ctx_tim=2025-01-30T11%3A07%3A27IST&url_ver=Z39.88-2004&url_ctx_fmt=infofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rfr_id=info:sid/primo.exlibrisgroup.com:primo3-Article-jstor_proqu&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:journal&rft.genre=article&rft.atitle=Public%20Perceptions%20of%20the%20Ideal%20Number%20of%20Children%20for%20Contemporary%20Families&rft.jtitle=Population%20and%20environment&rft.au=West,%20Kirsten%20K.&rft.date=1987-09-01&rft.volume=9&rft.issue=3&rft.spage=160&rft.epage=172&rft.pages=160-172&rft.issn=0199-0039&rft.eissn=1573-7810&rft_id=info:doi/10.1007/BF01259306&rft_dat=%3Cjstor_proqu%3E27503074%3C/jstor_proqu%3E%3Cgrp_id%3Ecdi_FETCH-LOGICAL-c343t-73e537e5f068e166765bb95b8bc83099ccb3e0db62e0807674769d7ebbef99273%3C/grp_id%3E%3Coa%3E%3C/oa%3E%3Curl%3E%3C/url%3E&rft_id=info:oai/&rft_pqid=1307180403&rft_id=info:pmid/&rft_jstor_id=27503074&rfr_iscdi=true