New Zealand Families Today

RESEARCH PROJECT Women in ulterior action sen decennaryce who energise elect to prevail voluntarily childfree what ar the implications if some(prenominal)(prenominal)? 1. exact The aim of the inquiry is to search the implications of stay voluntarily childfree for women in gunmansequently criticality at bottom the newfangled Plym go forthh district of spic-and-span Zealand. 1. a. INTRODUCTION Within m both westbound industrialised societies thither ar flavours that children translate fulfillment, decease purpose and off ready solitariness in subsequently feel. at that place atomic number 18 tales like the Three Spinsters from the writers The Brothers Grimm which hasten contributed to the stereotypes of unfruitful women as unaccompanied, bitter and unfulfilled for decades.If children ar necessary at preventing al unitaryness in older come on on that point is look up in regards to the current Zealand population trend. The 2006 pertly Zealand censu s released reports that by 2016 one in four women leave tarry childless. The implications of the gon that children argon necessary for antiquated eudaemonia could mean that our ageing generations whitethorn be prone to loneliness. The changing demographics of our family combine with the findings that thither is no inquiry to watch on unpaid childfree women in by and by vivification indoors newfound Zealand has amplified my disport in this prove topic.My interest in this look into pro touch stems from my own determine in vivification. I am a 35 year old Pakeha cleaning woman who has chosen to remain childfree. I acquit had many assurances put forward to me in regards to my personal choice to remain voluntarily childfree. These ar mainly aimed around the nonion that I am destined for loneliness in afterwards liveness and that I testament be unfulfilled. in that respectfore I take a crap made my position inwardly this question proposal transp arnt a s I acknowledge it is influential to my attitude when I undertake the look. Delwyn cogitation page 2 The investigate proposal depart outline the explore methodology to be carried out. The look pass on be soft base on a womens rightists horizon, to tin knowledge of women issues, for women from women. The explore entrust be guided by feminist ideology and search the affectionately constructed norms of womanhood without motherhood. The entropy solicitation ordain be the use of tier state which is fitting with soft seek. The story relative operation get out school the detective on how the thespians came to their chosen demeanor path.This impart be enlightening as the histrions came from the eras of where motherhood and childbirth was predominately something that happened to women non chosen by women (Held, 1989, as cited in Riley, 2008). The participants for the explore ordain be women who pay back chosen to remain childfree and they entrust be o er the age of 65. The age string of 65 plus is described as late adulthood in gay come upment supportspan theories (Berk, 2007). I know chosen this age criteria because critical kind, horny and developmental stages fall in this stop of life which are broadly normal to almost sr. (Berk, 2007).The search proposal pass oning besides be based on the reinvigorated Plymouth district of tonic Zealand. The brisk Plymouth district constitutes of modernistic Plymouth and the towns of Waitara, Inglewood, Urenui, Okato, toll Block, Oakura and many other smaller country-style communities ( tonic Plymouth govern Council, n. d. ). Within untried Zealand there is no empirical query assoil on forward-looking Zealand unpaid childless women in smaller urban areas in posterior life, hence why the research give be conducted here. 2. LITERATURE freshen upThis lit revue has minimal speech to tonic Zealand literature as there is a limited tuition on automatic childfree persons within sore Zealand. therefrom the majority of the literature relied on is sourced from horse opera industrialised countries. In 1997, Cameron investigated voluntary childless within new-fashioned Zealand in her tidings Without Issue New Zealanders who study not to have children. The participants within Delwyn orbit paginate 3 the research were numerous and compound mostly the qualitative approach of telling their story (Cameron, 1997). bingle of the free radicals that was highlighted in Camerons (1997) study was the brotherly perceptions of voluntary childfree persons the assumption that they were un contented, selfish, emotionally unstable, immature and LONELY. This assumption of alone(p) old women has fueled the myth that those who choose not to have children are dismission to be miserable in their ulterior years (Cameron, 1997). This was a putting green theme un breeded in further literature. This unimaginative image of voluntary childfree as lonely and unfulfilled is still predominating in our society in the twenty first century.Riley in her 2008 get the hang of well-disposed Science in Psychology researched stereotyping of voluntary childfree couples within New Zealand. This qualitative study oppugned and held focus classs of ten couples, to delve into stereotypes, military presss and harassments of their chosen life path. cardinal of the stereotypes that were identified was that they were destined for loneliness in later life (Riley, 2008, p. ii). byout Rileys 2008 thesis the belief by those who have/want children is that for idiosyncratics in society, and especially women children were fat in providing fulfillment and companionship.Jamison, Franzini and Kaplan (1979, cited in Riley, 2008) probe of the Statesn university students takeed Riley (2008) view that there are negative implications for women in later life who were remain childfree. The students perceived these women to be less likely to be happy and satisf ied in old age (Jamison, Franzini & Kaplan, 1979 cited in Riley, 2008, p. 21). The participants in Rileys (2008) research noted that there was harassment and pressure in regards to the implications and risks they were taking in remaining childfree.These were depicted objects that in later life they would be alone, they would not have children to sustain or give them fulfillment this would be internalised and their universe sanctionance would be effected (Riley, 2008). Delwyn Field scallywag 4 Regret is a message that childfree persons seem to hear continually in regards to their decision (Cameron, 1997). But there is to understand research that has actually provided the opposite outcome. In Jeffries and Konnett (2002) research found that 22 out of 23 participants of the Canadian voluntary childfree women did not regret their decision nor felt that their well- be was affected by their decision.When analyzing Zhang and Haywards (2001) quantitative research of Ameri hatfuls in the 1993 Asset and wellness Dynamics Among the Oldest Old (AHEAD) to quit the mental well world of childless older persons stereotypes are actually unfounded. The result of their research give over that childlessness when voluntary did not oppose the supposition that childlessness increases loneliness and depression for divorced, widowed and neer married ripened persons (Zhang & Hayward, 2001, p. 311). Therefore children make little difference in how women descend in later life in regards to loneliness.This was again confirmed by Rempels (1985) research obligate into the childless remote. Rempel apply the 1979 mixer Change in Canadas entropy base to compare childless and parent elderly. The results from the research showed that statistically there were minimal disparities of what they were missing in life. The article stated there were benefits to both choices in life. When reviewing the article Rempel (1985) highlighted the major power of those who were childfree to have a parallel quality of life of those who were parents in later life. This refutes the name that childfree elderly are isolated and lonely.What points to the parallel quality of life is that thou adult children provide support communicates to elderly parents. The childfree elderly withal have an established mesh take to the woods of friends and family e. g. siblings who contribute to their support networks (Rempel, 1985). Rempel (1985) suggest this is delinquent(p) to childfree persons knowing that in later life children are not going to be available. So in twirl they produce a life that ticks they are capable self reliant elderly with an established support network they nurture (Rempel, 1985, p. 347). Delwyn Field scallywag 5Zhang and Hayward (2001) confirmed that the amicable support network was crucial in childfree elderly maintaining wellbeing. Their research linked older childless persons being integrated into close friend networks alternatively of the close family networks older parents had established this was on par or to a great level at providing support (Zhang and Hayward, 2001). The research also underpinned the role of siblings, nieces and nephews played in elderly childfree lives as being valuable compared to that of elderly parents lives (Zhang and Hayward, 2001).Connidis and Davis (1990) qualitative survey of over 400 older person to conclude the place of family and friends in later life also states the use of differing support networks of elderly commonwealth is beneficial. In depth individual one hour oppugns in America discovered that among elderly persons a alter well-disposed network provides the best support in later life (Connidis and Davis, 1990). This is most favorable to childfree women as they tend to develop the strongest ties with friends and siblings as both companions and confidents (Connidis & Davis, 1990).This whitethorn be again collectable to ensuring their self reliance in later life cod to no children to depend upon. One of the detect findings in loneliness, loving isolation and living(a) alone in later life was the size of it of the individuals favorable network in offsetting negative effectuate of loneliness (Victor, Bowling, Bond & Scambler, n. d). Though a large amount of this literature review has shown loneliness is not the destiny of elderly childfree persons, it unfortunately has not included New Zealand childfree women.Therefore when analyzing Rileys (2008) childfree participants in her New Zealand study was there any signalise theme that was established in regards to societal networks and loneliness pertaining to the participants? altogether participants raised the c at oncern of their status childfree as making them to a greater extent socially excluded. The difficulty of remaining friends with volume when they became parents was expressed due to the nature of the kinship would change (Riley, 2008, p. 57). Maintaining friendships with parents was an issue an d affected social networks.Cameron (1997) also discovered this in her Delwyn Field page 6 study that childfree people believe that if they were parents they would have access to bigger social networks (Cameron, 1997). This is because parents have much in common with other parents children provide a connection that is not available to childfree (Riley, 2008). Although to date no info could be found within the literature research to confirm that parenting is a stock-purchase warrant to social inclusion. Unfortunately no participants were elderly to conclude loneliness in later life.More research gather ups to be conducted in regards to New Zealand Childfree persons to conclude social network supports and loneliness in elderly here. An article released by New Zealand Statistics in 2008 concluded that if trends continue one in four elderly women in New Zealand leave behind be childless. New Zealand statistics also stated that childless is to a greater extent common among women liv ing in main urban areas (Boddington & Didham, 2008). Boddington and Didham (2008) who collated this in holdation from the 2006 census state this is due to the larger social networks available in main urban areas.So provide women who remain voluntary childfree and reside in smaller urban areas, be subjected to to a greater extent negative impacts from their decision due to to a greater extent smaller social networks? 3. METHOD The research proposed is from a qualitative approach victimization storytelling as a means of discipline sight. This method is utilize because of the argument presented in favor of qualitative research that it views the social world as a complex, energising reality of multiple layers of meaning (Connolly, 2002, p. 27). Therefore qualitative info changes a more comprehensive cleverness into the complexity of people.qualitative research also supports feminist principles of where women are collaborative and equal in the research (Smith & noble-Spreull, 1 986). Where-as if a quantitative method was applied in this research, it would focus on controlled data where the police detective has a hierarchical human relationship with the researched, thus not equal and consonant with feminist values. similarly by means of telling their stories women are given a piece to speak out within the public arena Delwyn Field foliate 7 on pronatalism attitudes (promoting childbearing) which have been linked with olden values and subordination of women (Riley, 2008).In turn this research lead empower women to explore the complexity of childfree women which is important for womens lib. Hence the qualitative approach when researching women who choose to remain voluntary childfree embraces the feminist perspective and enables us to essay understanding and information from the participants point of view (Bryman, 2001). 3. 1 selective information COLLECTION The data collection for the research is finished with(p) one on one query through story telling. Davidson & Tolich state storytelling aims to explore an individuals identitythrough personal accounts (Alice, 2003, p. 6). It is a method that reveals bass data because when individuals talk of their understanding of events they whitethorn retell it giving greater insight to the complexity of their experiences and themselves (Webster & Mertova, 2007). This would be favorable in this research because the participants whitethorn have rather unequaled and complex accounts of their chosen life path where their point of view is vital for data collection. Feminists also believe that storytelling is unique at capturing the diversity of experiences betwixt women (Alice, 2003, p. 67).The interviews go away be conducted within the participants home, at generation which are most convenient for them. There is no structured time set due to the nature of the data collection method, but the research is based on one or two in depth interviews. The life stories pass on provide the i nterview format, my role as the detective give be to provide prompts to throw out the devolve of the interview work. Being an insider within the research proposal, and having my position transparent through contributing and sharing in the interview, give enhance the process of sharing stories.Through the storytelling collection method the research allow explore to cover several aspects of the participants life story. These testament be consistent with revealing data that willing abet to conclude what it is like to be voluntary childfree in later life. charm appendix one for subject social occasion the interviews will be seeking to cover from each participant. If a more nut structured Delwyn Field Page 8 interview was to take place assumptions some the participant may taint their tie-up and limit the data collected (Bryman 2001).The interviews will be recorded by audiotape, once respond is gained from the participants (Appendix two). This will enable me, the interview er, to remain focused on the participants and enable the flow of the interview. Note taking will not be included as it may distort respondents answers and may be interruptive in the flow of the interview (Bryman 2001). The audiotapes will be transcribed by the interviewer and transferred to a big(a) replicate. The participants will be invited to be supplied with a beat copy of the audio interview and hard copy.This will in turn encourage reciprocality i. e. equal bi directional relationships within the research process, which is in line with feminism ideology (Smith & Noble-Spreull, 1986). It will also rent for the participants to confirm and have the probability to gossip and make changes to their stories. This empowers the participant and encourages an egalitarian relationship which is congruent with qualitative research (Smith & Noble Spreull, 1986). The data through out the research abide will be kept in a locked file console within my home in Taranaki.All information th at is stored on computer will be contained in a undecomposed file. At the end of the research project all data will be destroyed that is held on the computer, and within the filing cabinet. The participants audio tapes and hard copy transcripts will be returned to them or destroyed at the end of the research depending on their personal preference. The qualitative research will be analysed using cryptography where data retrieved from the story telling is bewildered down to key findings using the themes from the interview guide and other categories (appendix one).The other categories may be quite broad due to the in-depth nature of the data collection, thus sub categories may evolve through the data digest (Bryman, 2001). The use of coding within the research enables the police detective to review transcripts and trace significant common themes of the participants interviews Delwyn Field Page 9 (Bryman, 2001). The coding process will categorize the participants life stories show ing common patterns in the social world of those who remain voluntary childfree and bear for analysis of the data (Bryman, 2001).Within the data collection coding should be done as soon as doable to sharpen your understanding of the data and help with providing other emerging patterns (Bryman, 2001, p. 398). These patterns above the interview themes will contribute to the findings and the development of a theory to conclude the implications of remaining voluntarily childfree in later life. Once the coding is complete the data can be statistically analysed. 3. 2 SAMPLE concourse/ PARTICIPANTS The sample class will consist of septette voluntary participants.The criteria for the sample sort out will be female, aged 65 years plus, voluntary childfree, living fissiparous within the New Plymouth district union and have no cognitive balk e. g. Alzheimers and dementia. The participants will be recruited through volunteer means. An advertisement will be placed within the local New Plymouth Midweek paper, over a stay of two months recruiting volunteer participants (appendix four). The advertisement will also target local authorization Age Concern to advertise in their news earn magazine (Appendix four).Recruitment will also depend on invitations been broaden through snowballing where the researcher depends on the social network groups of childfree women to enable invitation. Bryman (2001) describes snowballing as the opportunity to use a small group to recruit other participants who are relevant for the research. This method of recruitment is chosen because there is no data base to seek women who have chosen to remain voluntary childfree available in New Zealand. The researcher will select the first seven participants who meet the chosen criteria.The number of participants allows the researcher to acquire a large fair to middling sample base for data to be consequential in providing an analysis of voluntary childfree women. The Delwyn Field Page 10 group n umber is also conducive in enabling the type of data collection method to be effectively conducted. This is due the in depth nature of story telling collection methods in lodge with the time restraints of the research proposal. The selected seven participants will be sent a garner introducing the researcher stating what is required as participants (appendix three), and a consent form (appendix two).The consent form will tell the participants of their rights, where the information will be used and guarantee them that they can swallow from the research at any time (appendix two). 4. ETHICAL ISSUES Through my study as a social work student I will be guided by the Aotearoa New Zealand connective of amicable naturaliseers (ANZASW) Code of ethics (2008) estimable responsibilities in research. The research carried out will be in line with social work practice and be fine to the wellbeing and dignity of participants by consolidation the following into the research proposed (ANZAS W, 2008, p. 4). Before pioneer any recruitment the research proposed will be taken to the Western initiate of Technology (WITT) Ethics Committee to seek guidance and advice in regards to what research ethical motive committee I may need to gain approval from. This will ensure that the research meets the appropriate standards of being ethically sound. Within the voluntary recruitment process no participants will be obtained by coercion nor by force and at all times through out the research the participants have the right to withdraw without explanation to the researcher (Wilkinson, 2001, p. 6). The introduction letter (Appendix three) will be to ensure that participants are moneyedly informed of all relevant information in regards to the nature, purpose and process of the research that is to be carried out. This information will be securey disclosed whether the participant has asked for it or not and will ensure that the participant gains full knowledge of what they are getting into (Wilkinson, 2001). This will all be disclosed before obtaining create verbally consent (Appendix two) from the participants so that no deception occurs. Delwyn FieldPage 11 All data collection methods will be conducted in a manner that upholds the principles of Te Tiriti O Waitangi partnership, participation and protection. The research will be conducted so that self determination is sustained. This will be through participants obtaining a full copy of the audio interview and written copy of the transcript for clarification. This will also provide the opportunity for them to change and take away any information that they do not wish to be disclosed. Confidentiality will be upheld, names of participants will be deleted.Participants will be informed though that some information given may enable them to be identified due to the size of the demographic area so complete confidentiality can not be fully guaranteed. All information obtained will be destroyed on completion of the res earch project, with the option that participants may have information returned to them if they wish. The concern for harm within the research would be that the research topic may generate negative memories and emotions for the participants.Under the article 8. 1 of the ANZASW Code of Ethics (2008) the researcher must take all possible steps to protect participants, if distress does occur a referral to a counselor will be provided (ANZASW, 2008, p. 14). This service will be available during and up to the completion of the research. authorisation problems that may occur in nerve-wracking to carry out the research may be the perception that I the researcher are too young, thus discrediting my ability causing the participants to not talk to me.Also the ability to gain participants who wish to cope their stories of their chosen life path of voluntarily remaining childfree may be considered too personal to share. If not enough participants are found the sample may not be large enough to give a significant and fair analysis of the implications of remaining childfree in later life within the New Plymouth district. Delwyn Field Page 12 At all times I will seek supervising due to my own personal position within the research topic. This will be to ensure information obtained from the research will not spark off any negative mental discomfort in my own personal life. . CONCLUSION This research proposal is an opportunity for women to tell their stories and enlighten society that womanhood in later life is not just treasured on motherhood, thus disputing pronaltist ideology (Riley, 2008). These stories will hopefully support existing literature and remove assumptions, allowing voluntarily childfree women to be more valued in our society and not stereotyped for later life implications. One of the greatest benefits of this research is that undertaking research on women in later life who are voluntary childfree may assist future elderly generations.This is through provid ing rich data from their life stories which may conclude coping techniques to ensure well being an offset loneliness in later life. With using a feminist perspective in the qualitative research methodology the research will work for women and give a voice to empower them in their choices. The weakness of the research is that there is no quantitative data for triangulation which may have provided the research with more validity and reliability. proximo studies within New Zealand will be beneficial due to the limitations of this proposed research. Delwyn Field Page 13 6. BibliographyAlice, L. (2003). Power, experience, and process in femininst research. In C. Davidson & M. Tolich (Eds. ). Social Science search In New Zealand Many Paths to Understanding. (2nd ed. ). 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