why do the poor have big families when they know they cannot assure the survival of all their children?

Answer 1

I don't know about Third World countries--maybe they have no access to birth control, or it's illegal. Here, the poor have big families because A: someone else pays for them B:they don't have to bother to raise them responsibly and C:every one they produce adds a little more money to the monthly welfare check for booze and lottery tickets.Bonus: If they can manage to have one that's handicapped, the whole family's set for life.

Answer 2

In this day, not so many poor have a large number of children. In times past, the poor had children because they were unaware of birth control or did not have money to purchase it. Their only way to control not having children was abstinence. That was impossible of course as husbands and wives need each other for comfort and love. Their lovemaking may have been their only pleasure after struggling to make a living, not to mention it is mere instinct. Also, many religious beliefs think it is a sin to not reproduce, and to prevent reproduction. As for as survival of all their children, well, wealthy people who have the means to buy birth control still cannot assure that the one or two children they have will survive, now can they?

Answer 3

It has nothing to do with assuring the survival of all their children. The truth is this: The poor have little or no money, right? So they can't afford to go on vacation, or to the movies, or on a road trip, or even down to the local watering hole, much less spend $ on birth control. So what would you do if you were in that situation? Probably the same thing they do, imitate the mating rituals of rabbits...

Answer 4

The richest kid on the face of the planet can die tomorrow in a car wreck.

No one can ensure the survival of anyone.

Not all poor people have big families.

This is just a ridiculous statement.

But, in answer to your question...for the poor that do have larger families...what do you suggest?

Often, here's the choices facing poor people: $4.00 box (or more) of condoms, or a 25 lb bag of rice to feed your children through the week?

$5 to 6k vasectomy or tubal ligation or a $1000 car to get to work?

See what I mean?

Answer 5

I recently did something about this in geography on a rising population in the third world. It is thought that the poorer people of the world will have large families:

- to replace children that have died
- to bring in a largeer income for the family
- because contraception is often forbidden or unavaliable
- because high numbers of children look good on the father in a patriachal society.
- because women dont have a choice

whether this will apply to richer countries i'm not sure, but there we are some reasons for the third world.

Answer 6

The poor believes they can only survive by having large families.
These families can be traced to peasant communities and large families help to work on the fields for the production of food crops.

The larger the family, the more crops planted and hence more food available to the family.

Answer 7

who says the poor are the only ones with big families, there are well to do families that have many children-How can anyone guarantee the survival of thier children rich or poor

Answer 8

no one can assure the survival of anyone. I know a lot of families that have a lot of children, are not financially well off, but do very well by their children.

Answer 9

I've been trying to figure that out too. WE arent poor, my dad brings in a pretty hefty check and moms a childrens doctor. but there are 6 kids in my family and my niece lives with us, brings us down to where noone knows where the money goes! wed have a ridiculous lot if there werent so freakin many!

Answer 10

Since this is in the genealogy section: Years ago people had large families for the most logical reasons. To help farm the land, work to add income to the family, carry on the family name etc.