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Understanding Young Fertility in the Context of Economic Disadvantage

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Early Adulthood in a Family Context

Part of the book series: National Symposium on Family Issues ((NSFI,volume 2))

Abstract

This chapter notes the strong association between young fertility and economic disadvantage. Three research areas are described relating to young fertility that I believe may warrant additional attention. First, it would be useful to know more about the process and antecedents of young fertility, particularly in light of the gap between the perceived financial prerequisites for marriage among low-income couples and the lack of such prerequisites for childbearing. Second, it is important to understand more about the nature and dynamics of young childrearing in the context of complex personal and family circumstances, such as multipartnered fertility, high rates of paternal incarceration, unstable couple relationships, and likely repartnering. Third, the broader implications of young fertility are not well understood, particularly the extent to which young fertility may be part of the process of growing stratification and inequality, both within and across generations.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sociology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA

    Marcia J. Carlson

Authors
  1. Marcia J. Carlson
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Correspondence to Marcia J. Carlson .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sociology, Justice, Pennsylvania State University, Oswald Tower 513, University Park, 16802, Pennsylvania, USA

    Alan Booth

  2. Bowling Green State University, 239 Williams Hall, Bowling Green, 43403, Ohio, USA

    Susan L. Brown

  3. Pennsylvania State University, Oswald Tower 601, University Park, 16802, Pennsylvania, USA

    Nancy S. Landale

  4. , Departments of Sociology and Demography, Bowling Green State University, 239 Williams Hall, Bowling Green, 43403, Ohio, USA

    Wendy D. Manning

  5. The Pennsylvania State University, 601 Oswald Tower, University Park, 16802, Pennsylvania, USA

    Susan M. McHale

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Carlson, M.J. (2012). Understanding Young Fertility in the Context of Economic Disadvantage. In: Booth, A., Brown, S., Landale, N., Manning, W., McHale, S. (eds) Early Adulthood in a Family Context. National Symposium on Family Issues, vol 2. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-1436-0_14

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