Women & Demographic Change (College Board AP® Human Geography): Study Guide
Changes in Fertility Rates
The social, economic, and cultural position of women in society has significant impacts on population characteristics and demographic change
There is a direct correlation between women’s advancement in society and a decreased total fertility rate
Higher educational levels for women produce lower fertility rates
Higher workforce participation levels for women produce lower fertility rates
Increased political access for women correlates with increased levels of family planning
More developed countries tend to have higher gender equality and lower birth rates
Developing countries tend to have more traditional gender roles and higher birth rates
Cultural and religious factors influence women's status and roles and, therefore, fertility rates
For example, societies that are more religious and societies that have more traditional economic systems, including rural societies, tend to be more conservative, with women holding more traditional domestic roles
This results in higher fertility rates
Areas such as Sub-Saharan Africa, Afghanistan, and Catholic communities in South America would be examples of this general trend.
Urban areas tend to offer more political and economic advancements for women and have lower fertility rates while rural areas tend to be more traditional and have higher fertility rates
Examiner Tips and Tricks
The AP Exam often asks questions about women and the connection of gender to other geographical patterns and processes. In particular, you should be able to make connections between the role of women in society, literacy and education levels, family planning, fertility rates, and economic development. You should also be able to identify a country’s stage in the Demographic Transition Model based on women’s status.
Changing roles of women & population
As women increase their social, political and economic participation, they tend to delay the age at which they get married and have fewer children later in life
Women increasingly have access to family planning and contraception to prevent unwanted pregnancy
Social, economic and political roles
Developed countries
In developed countries, women tend to have careers and both men and women look after children
Careers and access to contraception means that fertility rates are lower
Women make up a large portion of the workforce
Women have an increasing role in wider society including political positions
Women's rights are viewed as important
Developing countries
In developing countries, women are more likely to be the main carers for children
Fertility rates are high because:
contraception is not as available
children can help to support the family by helping with farming
Women are less likely to work outside of the household
The majority of women do not have roles in wider society and in some countries do not have the right to participate in the political process
Women's access to education may be limited
Women and migration
According to Ravenstein's laws, women are more likely than men to migrate within their country
In long-distance, international migration, women have often been secondary migrants following men
Increasingly, women are migrating internationally for education and employment
Worked Example
The AP Exam will often ask you to make connections between women’s social and economic standing and changing population dynamics. For example, see the sample free-response question below:
A. Explain the difference in fertility rates between rural and urban populations.
B. Explain how access to education affects fertility rates.
Answers
A. The fertility rate falls as women move from rural to urban environments.
Urban environments offer more job opportunities which results in a lower fertility rate.
Families have less need for workers in urban environments; and, so, they tend to have fewer children.
Women can access greater health care in urban environments, leading to increased family planning and lower fertility rates.
B. Women’s access to education correlates to lower fertility rates.
Increased access to education leads to later marriage age and later first birth, as well as fewer children overall.
Access to education leads to women entering the workforce and wanting fewer children.
Access to education leads women to have a greater understanding of pregnancy and family planning, leading to decreased fertility rates.
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