Over the course of the twentieth century, we saw the emergence of a more child-centred family unit and society, following improved standards of living and nutrition, together with prohibitions on child labour, which led to a major decline in the infant mortality rate. This higher standard of living also meant that having children became more expensive.
From the 1960s, the increased availability and efficiency of contraception also allowed women to choose to have fewer children (quality over quantity) and, consequently, parents were able to invest more in the fewer children they had, in terms of love, socialisation and protection. As a result, sociologists such as Phillippe Ariès have spoken about the recent ‘cult of childhood’ and how the position of children has changed and improved over time.
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