Demographic Change

Sociologists

McKeon: increased life expectancy due to..

• Health education
• Improved standards of public health and welfare
• Improved working conditions
• Higher living standards

Statistics

• 1851 life expectancy = 40 male, 44 female
• 2013 life expectancy = 78.7 male, 82.6 female, 81.5 average 
• NHS 1948
• Under 15s vaccinations 1958
• Vaccination for 65+ 2000

Sociologists

• Spijker and MacInnes: older generation = fitter, healthier, independent 
• Lawton: economy boost due to older people working for longer - more people are available to work 

Statistics

• Dept. of culture, media, sports survey: 4.9 million 65+ volunteer
• 1901: 33% under 15, 65% 15-65, 4% 65+
• 2005 - 2013: elderly (85+) increased by 30%
• 2012: 17% 65+
• 2011: legal retirement age (65) abolished so now 1/10 65+ in employed work. 

Sociologists

• Beck and Beck-Gernsheim: world families and distant love = love between countries/continents
• Chambers: increased global family networks (migrants send money)
  • BUT: women exploited - surrogate motherhood, mail-order brides, home helps/nannies

Statistics

• Association of Chief Police Officers 2010: 17,000 / 30,000 women in off street prostitution in England/Wales = migrants , 70% of migrants = trafficking victims 
• Strict rules: minimum income of £18,600 a year to bring in non EU family/kids
  • Splits up 17,800 families a year
• 2007-2013: 10,000 immigrants a year
• March 2014: 28,000 per year (lifting of labour market restrictions - Jan)
• 2013: 5% immigrants are asylum seekers fleeing persecution
• 1962/68: Commonwealth Immigrants Act - harder for Caribbean/Asian immigrants
• 1999: Immigration/Asylum Acts = harder for Asylum seekers to settle in Britain

Sociologists

• Sharpe: women put jobs before kids, unlike 70s 
• McRobbie: women have kids later in life because they want degrees more
• Hirsch: £154,000 to have a child up to 18 years 

Statistics

• Aviva Insurance Company 2011: average family size in decline due to family costs - 58% said only one child due to cost
• Postmodernists: consumer values dominate society/provide identity - couples reluctant to have children, prefer consumerism
• Couples with only one child: 1976 - 16%, 2010 - 20%
• Average age of first time Mum: 1950 - under 20, 2010 - 29.8 
• Less under 30s having kids now 
• 40x over 40s having kids than 30 years ago
• 1940: welfare state decreased infant mortality rate 

• Rapport: 5 types of diversity
  • Cultural
  • Social Class
  • Generational
  • Life Stage
  • Organisational