Socialization for Childbearing

This paper provides a conceptual framework for studying socialization for childbearing, and presents empirical findings regarding selected components of that framework. By exploring socialization about birth control, family size, the value of children, and sex preferences for children, the paper attempts to explicate some of the processes and content of socialization for childbearing. The data indicate that by the time a young woman is at risk of pregnancy, she apparently has notions about the value of children, appropriate family size, and preferences for sex of offspring. While there is a moderate amount of mother‐child communication about birth control, the mother's own contraceptive behavior is generally not known to her children. However, on the matter of family size, young people are more well informed and accurate concerning the preferences of their mothers.