Decisions to Have Children in Late 20th and Early 21st Century Australia

This book explores the process of decision-making around having children in a sample of 115 men, women and couples for whom family formation was a recent past, current or imminent future issue. The discussion is initially focused on the extent to which parenthood was contemplated in late adolescence and during the relationship formation/courtship process, and the process by which family sizes are determined. Decision-making associated with having first, second, third and fourth children is then examined in chapters entitled The First Child; The 'Obligatory' Second Child; The Discretionary Third Child and Fourth Children - Negative Reactions, Practical Issues. Decisions to Have Children in Late 20th and Early 21st Century Australia offers a detailed coverage of a topic with resonances and implications that apply to contemporary cultures all around the world.