Fertility, class, and gender in Britain, 1860-1940
By: Simon Szreter.
Series: Cambridge studies in population, economy, and society in past time ;; 27
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Published: 1996
Place of publication: Cambridge; New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 704
Subjects: Great Britain -- Population -- History -- 19th century.; Great Britain -- Population -- History -- 20th century.; Fertility, Human -- Great Britain -- History -- 19th century.; Fertility, Human -- Great Britain -- History -- 20th century.; Social classes -- Great Britain -- History -- 19th century.; Social classes -- Great Britain -- History -- 20th century.; Sex role -- Great Britain -- History -- 19th century.; Sex role -- Great Britain -- History -- 20th century.
Description: Fertility, class and gender in Britain, 1860-1940 offers an original interpretation of the history of falling fertilities. It integrates the approaches of the social sciences and of demographic, gender and labour history with intellectual, social and political history. Dr Szreter excavates the history and exposes the statistical inadequacy of the long-standing orthodoxy of a national, unitary class-differential fertility decline. A new analysis of the famous 1911 fertility census presents evidence for over 200 occupational categories, showing many diverse fertility regimes, differentiated by distinctively gendered labour markets and changing family roles. Surprising and important findings emerge: births were spaced from early in marriage; sexual abstinence by married couples was far more significant than previously imagined.

A new general approach to the study of fertility change is proposed; also a new conception of the relationship between class, community and fertility change; and a new evaluation of the positive role of feminism. Fertility, class and gender continually raises central issues concerning the relationship between history and social science.

Fertility, class and gender in Britain, 1860-1940 offers an original interpretation of the history of falling fertilities. It integrates the approaches of the social sciences and of demographic, gender and labour history with intellectual, social and political history. Dr Szreter excavates the history and exposes the statistical inadequacy of the long-standing orthodoxy of a national, unitary class-differential fertility decline.

A new analysis of the famous 1911 fertility census presents evidence for over 200 occupational categories, showing many diverse fertility regimes, differentiated by distinctively gendered labour markets and changing family roles. Surprising and important findings emerge: births were spaced from early in marriage; sexual abstinence by married couples was far more significant than previously imagined. A new general approach to the study of fertility change is proposed; also a new conception of the relationship between class, community and fertility change; and a new evaluation of the positive role of feminism.

Fertility, class and gender continually raises central issues concerning the relationship between history and social science.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 636-674) and index.