The Second Demographic Transition Meets Globalization: A Comprehensive Theory to Understand Changes in Family Formation in an Era of Rising Uncertainty

2012 ◽  
pp. 9-33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melinda Mills ◽  
Hans-Peter Blossfeld
Keyword(s):  
Demographic Transition ◽  
Family Formation ◽  
Second Demographic Transition ◽  
Comprehensive Theory

scholarly journals Spatial dimension of the second demographic transition in Serbia

2018 ◽  
pp. 499-514
Author(s):  
Daniela Arsenovic ◽  
Vladimir Nikitovic ◽  
Ivana Magdalenic
Keyword(s):  
Demographic Transition ◽  
Regional Differences ◽  
Marital Fertility ◽  
Family Formation ◽  
Population Policy ◽  
Spatial Dimension ◽  
Low Fertility ◽  
Second Demographic Transition ◽  
Demographic Indicators ◽  
History Of

Current research of the second demographic transition (SDT) in Serbia is largely focused on its sociological dimension, particularly on changes related to family formation. On the other hand, understanding the spatial dimension of this process can help in understanding its further expansion, but also its nature outside the countries in which it was originally described, as the history of the first demographic transition showed it. The aim of this paper is to determine whether spatial patterns of recent changes (1991-2011) in fertility indicators in Serbia could have their foundation in SDT. For this purpose, regional differences in the diffusion of demographic innovations, measured by typical demographic indicators of SDT such as total fertility rate, mean age of women at childbirth and proportion of non-marital live births, were examined. Although the findings in terms of the spreading of low fertility and postponement of births may indicate that SDT drivers are at work in Serbia, those related to non-marital fertility suggest that this process may not be so straightforward, thus highlighting the similarity with the manifestation of SDT indicators in European post-socialist societies. It is unquestionable, however, that the transition between traditional and modern in terms of the reproductive regime in Serbia has its clear spatial dimension and its further research would greatly clarify the mechanisms and tempo of future changes and contribute to defining of adequate measures of population policy.

scholarly journals “Does Everybody Want the Hollywood Fairytale?” Same-Sex Couples Hinting at the Second Demographic Transition in Brazil

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
pp. e202109
Author(s):  
Luísa Cardoso Guedes de Souza ◽  
Paula Miranda-Ribeiro
Keyword(s):  
Demographic Transition ◽  
Family Formation ◽  
Second Demographic Transition ◽  
Same Sex ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Gay Couples ◽  
Same Sex Couples ◽  
The Family ◽  
Living Together ◽  
Parenting Intentions

This article examines same-sex couples as a sign of the Second Demographic Transition, investigating how gay and lesbian couples living together in Brasília build their family, whether they intend to have children, and what challenges they face. We conducted semi-structured interviews online to investigate the family formation process and parenting intentions of 42 couples living together in Brasília in 2019, 20 lesbian and 22 gay couples. The organizing themes in the interviews were marriage, children, work, and stigma. This study advances existing scholarship on families by articulating points of connection between the legal institution of same-sex marriage in Brazil, changing social norms regarding family life, and parental gender expectations as signs of the Second Demographic Transition. Studying same-sex couples contribute to a more complex understanding of the family, the gendered division of labor, and the dimension of fertility and parenting intentions.

The Timing of Family Formation in Britain and Spain

2001 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 54-70 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clare Holdsworth ◽  
Jane Elliott
Keyword(s):  
Demographic Transition ◽  
Western Europe ◽  
Family Formation ◽  
Universal Theory ◽  
Second Demographic Transition ◽  
Leaving Home ◽  
The North ◽  
Independent Events ◽  
National Differences ◽  
Cross National

Both fertility and marriage behaviour have changed considerably throughout Western Europe. While fertility has declined across the continent there has been an increase in the age of marriage, accompanied by an increase in cohabitation rates and marriage dissolution. These cross- national trends have been suggested to be indicative of a second demographic transition. Both Beck and Giddens have attempted to locate these changes in family formation within a wider context of social change associated with late modernity. However, in this paper we argue that in trying to provide a universal theory to understand the second demographic transition it is important not to overlook important cross- national differences. Previous comparative research has established that in the South young people tend to marry later, but have children earlier in partnerships. While in the North, marriage and leaving home occur earlier but the link between marriage and childbirth is weaker. In this paper we use data from the British National Child Development Study and the Spanish 1991 Sociodemographic Survey in order to compare the processes of family formation in Britain and Spain. The emphasis is on understanding the sequencing and timing of a) leaving home, b) forming a partnership, and c) giving birth to a first child in relation to each other rather than as independent events.

scholarly journals Country differences in the link between gender-role attitudes and marital centrality: Evidence from 24 countries

2021 ◽  
pp. 002071522098592
Author(s):  
Kamila Kolpashnikova ◽  
Muzhi Zhou ◽  
Man-Yee Kan
Keyword(s):  
Gender Role ◽  
Gender Equality ◽  
Demographic Transition ◽  
Family Formation ◽  
Gender Role Attitudes ◽  
Fertility Level ◽  
Second Demographic Transition ◽  
Country Level ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Gender Revolution

This study investigates factors that could explain why the association between the egalitarian gender-role attitudes and the attitudes toward the importance of marriage (marital centrality) differs across societies. Using data from the International Social Survey Programme for 24 countries in 2002 and 2012 and multilevel modeling, we explore whether the Gender Revolution and the Second Demographic Transition frameworks could explain the country-level differences in the association between gender-role attitudes and marital centrality. We find that the negative association between the egalitarian gender-role attitudes and marital centrality is stronger in countries with a higher gender equality level and a higher fertility level. This work highlights the importance of considering the progress of the gender revolution and the second demographic transition to understand the relationship between gender equality and family formation.

scholarly journals Risk society and the second demographic transition

2002 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 173 ◽  
Author(s):  
David R. Hall
Keyword(s):  
Demographic Transition ◽  
Family Formation ◽  
Modern Society ◽  
Risk Society ◽  
Contemporary Society ◽  
Risk Awareness ◽  
Second Demographic Transition ◽  
Sociological Literature ◽  
Interpersonal Risk

Prominent “risk society” theorists such as Giddens and Beck have identified risk as a fundamental organizing principle of contemporary society. Importantly, a major cause of risk awareness and anxiety in modern society is individualism . . a concept Lesthaeghe linked to changes in family formation. In this regard, of the types of risk discussed in the sociological literature, “interpersonal risks” associated with cohabitation, marriage, and parenting are of obvious salience. This paper explores how the modern “risk society” thesis, and the concept of interpersonal risk could materially contribute to understanding the second demographic transition.

scholarly journals Changes of marital behavior and family patterns in post-socialist countries: Delayed, incomplete or specific second demographic transition?

Stanovnistvo ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-78 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mina Petrovic
Keyword(s):  
Demographic Transition ◽  
Structural Changes ◽  
Social Deprivation ◽  
Extended Family ◽  
Low Fertility ◽  
Second Demographic Transition ◽  
Family Organization ◽  
Family Patterns ◽  
Short Period ◽  
Marital Behavior

The paper starts by questioning the theory of second demographic transition (SDT) and its universal relevance in the field of marriage behavior and family organization in low fertility context, arguing for more differentiated approaches. With an aim to illustrate the contextual specifics of post-socialist countries in general and of Serbia in particular, the author claims that analyzed changes have not just been delayed or incomplete in comparison to more developed European countries, but shaped by specific modernization processes, which led to rationally developed strategies in overcoming structural risks, although, without ideational changes typical to the theory of SDT. Slow changes in marital behavior and family organization in Serbia are illustrated in recent sociological (empirical) research findings. The perceived changes are linked to specific structural risks (war, slow transformation and enduring economic hardships, weak state and low trust in institutions, etc) and value characteristics (persistence of materialism and traditionalism, but with increasing ambivalence). The connection between structural and ideational changes is considered through social stratification variable by relying on Coale's model on necessary preconditions for behavioral changes as well as on social deprivation concept. Having in mind upper social strata (more educated and better off), the value changes precede the behavioral that are adapted to economic uncertainty, which still force more traditional marital and family patterns. Therefore, there is a rank of different options, from extended family (for a short period at the beginning of marriage or after divorce) to separated leaving (of married partners) in parental households (due to refusing the extended family option thus creating quite specific "living apart together" form), combined with dominant strategy of prolonging the marriage. Hence, for upper social strata, marriage is still a universal but negotiable institution since more alternative options (although attractive and in accordance to changing values) are deemed irrational (have no obvious benefit). As regards the lower social strata (less educated and worse off), marriage is more in accordance with their higher inclination to traditional values, but general value liberalization legitimizes possible failures (divorces, extra marital births), which, even if not desired or economically rational, happen due to lower capacity to command life. For that reason, cohabitations and extra marital births are more common among actors at the lower end of the stratification ladder. The paper concludes that adaptive strategies related to traditional patterns of family organization dominate in Serbia, which might be illustrated by the fact that every third of one parent families lives in extended families. Even with significant structural changes (and economic improvements) in Serbia in the near future it is realistic to expect familism as an influential context, which suggests the spreading of cohabitation primarily as a pre- marital option (but more desired than forced).

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