Pre-reading task. 1. Is having children connected with any disadvantages?

1. Is having children connected with any disadvantages? What are they?

2. What do you know about a demographic problem?

3. Why has there been fewer children born lately than in the past?

In the past, young married couples often had children right after getting married. They didn't ask themselves if they had the desire to stay up at night with babies, to spend a good part of their time with children, to give up going out at night whenever they wanted to. Now, many young couples feel that not having children will allow them to have a freer, more enjoyable life style.

Never has the question of family size attracted as much attention in this country as it is getting now. In this time of "the pill," women's liberation, and high prices, young couples are giving serious thought to the number of children they want, can afford, or can raise successfully. What are the emotional or financial problems of raising a big family? Does raising children become incompatible with a wife's working career in the outside world? Can a childless couple achieve lasting satisfaction on their own? Michael Shandrik, 29, and his wife Pamela, 31, have joined the growing number of young couples who don't have, and don't want children. Many of their close friends are childless and plan to remain that way. Michael, a United States citizen who works for the Canadian consulate in San Francisco, says the decision not to have children developed over four years of marriage. He explains, "We never decided to become childless. It more or less became an understanding after we got married." Pamela, publications editor for a travel business in Berkeley, adds, "If I had married before 23, I probably would have had children. But as the years went by, I got used to the idea of working and not having children. It's too late to change now." For both of them, the desire for a free life style played a big part in the decision. Michael, who wants to build a career in communications, makes the point honestly: "We are just too selfish to have children at this point. We would rather buy the things we really want than go without things for the sake of the children. If we had a kid, we would have to start thinking about its education and health. We like the independence of getting up and going somewhere whenever we want. I want to get ahead. I have to take a lot of risks. In the places where I've worked, a guy who isn't happy keeps the job because of his family. I can find another job or simply leave." Pamela, too, is concerned about her career. But she also speaks about the need to prevent overpopulation. She says she is a supporter of Zero Population Growth, and adds, "I am doing my part to keep the world from being overcrowded with human beings in another 100 years. Furthermore, from a woman's point of view, if you have children when you are young, there is a 50-50 chance you will be raising them alone. I know a lot of divorced women with children. It's hard for them to raise their children alone." Thus the decision has been made to remain childless. For other couples unsure of whether or not to have children, Pamela says, "If you want children, it should be a positive decision. A couple should really want to have a child and be interested in its growth. The mother should stay at home with the kid – not working and leaving it off at a day care center. A lot of women have a kid because it is what they are expected to do. Have it because you want it."

incompatible -несумісний

selfish -егоістичний

to be concerned about – бути стурбованим

day care center – дитячий садок

Discussion

1. What do you feel about having children? How many children should a married couple have?

2. What do you feel about people who don’t want to have children?

3. What’s the best age for a man and for a woman to have children?

4. What do you feel about nuclear families and extended families?

5. Is it possible for a woman to make a career and be a good mother?

6. Many women now delay having their first child until they are in their 30s. Do you think that these women make more capable parents than those who have children when they are teenagers or in their 20s. Support your answers with reasons.

Roleplay:

1. You are explaining to a friend why you don’t want to have children. A friend is trying to convince you to have them.

2. Two women who have a full-time job are discussing why it is difficult for women to work and to have children.

BRATS

Дата добавления: 2015-10-02