The Country has recently published an article (somewhat confusing by the way) with data on the Fertility Survey 2006 of the Sociological Research Center coordinated by Margarita Delgado. From him I have extracted the following information:
- The Spanish have 1.05 children on average
- The age of motherhood has been delayed two years in five years
- At a higher educational level, fewer children are had and later. The university students have children at 33.5 on average and women with average studies at 28 years.
- At 30, only half of the women have had their first child, while 70% already live outside the home and 90% have got their first job
- 19% of women of childbearing age say they don't want to be a mother
- A 60% of women consider motherhood an obstacle to their professional career
- 16% of mothers who now have between 20 and 49 years have definitely abandoned work for maternity
The reasons mentioned in the study for not having children are: high cost of upbringing, (especially when children are growing up), the extra contribution of a poorly shared job, the hardness of pregnancy and childbirth, worries that never disappear, personal uncertainty, lack of confidence in the future and Age in those over 35.
Our politicians have been whining about birth rates in Spain (the lowest in Europe) for several years, but what measures have they taken? It seems that none really effective because there is a unstoppable trend in maternity delay and the least number of children.
As long as the work situation does not improve (schedules, conciliation policy), mobbing and layoffs in pregnancy are eradicated, aid and facilities are extended to families and real solutions are offered to raise our children and work at the same time (or later) and not having to choose between children or work, Spain is hopelessly condemned to be a country of old people.
On the other hand, I am also saddened by some of the reasons given for not having children for selfish and immature. I think that a serious reflection on the subject would lead us to realize that our situation is not as distressing as it is that of mothers in the distance, and that if we really want to have children and raise them we can find many paths.
I wish we had it as easy as the Swedish, but in the meantime: the company proposes and the person has.
