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02/05/2006
Britons put work ahead of babies
Britain's low birth rate is being caused by a generation who would rather make money and have fun than have children, a survey has suggested.
A poll of just over a thousand adults for 'The Guardian' found that 64% of men and 51% of women believed that it was more important for women to enjoy themselves rather than have children.
According to the poll only 36% of women said that people should put having children ahead of having a career, while only 32% of men believed that women should children before work.
However, the poll also found that the majority of people - 79% - believed that the best age for a woman to give birth is under 30, even though 49% of children are now born to mothers over 30.
Career pressures were the biggest reason cited for making having children more difficult, with 63% blaming work pressures, while 54% said that the cost of raising children was a deterrent.
Social pressures were also a factor, with 48% saying that couples do not tend to stay together today as they did in the past, while 37% said that many people now left having children too late and missed their chance.
More than half the women surveyed - 53% - also said that it was more difficult now than ever for people to meet the right partner, with 46% of men also agreeing.
(KMcA)
A poll of just over a thousand adults for 'The Guardian' found that 64% of men and 51% of women believed that it was more important for women to enjoy themselves rather than have children.
According to the poll only 36% of women said that people should put having children ahead of having a career, while only 32% of men believed that women should children before work.
However, the poll also found that the majority of people - 79% - believed that the best age for a woman to give birth is under 30, even though 49% of children are now born to mothers over 30.
Career pressures were the biggest reason cited for making having children more difficult, with 63% blaming work pressures, while 54% said that the cost of raising children was a deterrent.
Social pressures were also a factor, with 48% saying that couples do not tend to stay together today as they did in the past, while 37% said that many people now left having children too late and missed their chance.
More than half the women surveyed - 53% - also said that it was more difficult now than ever for people to meet the right partner, with 46% of men also agreeing.
(KMcA)
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16 November 2005
Women key to boosting entrepreneurship
The benefits of getting more women to take up entrepreneurship are clear according to DTI Minister for Women and Equality, Meg Munn. At the moment, women-owned businesses contribute about £70 billion to Gross Value Added, about 25% of the UK total, mainly from the growing service sector. Nearly a million women are self-employed today in the UK.
Women key to boosting entrepreneurship
The benefits of getting more women to take up entrepreneurship are clear according to DTI Minister for Women and Equality, Meg Munn. At the moment, women-owned businesses contribute about £70 billion to Gross Value Added, about 25% of the UK total, mainly from the growing service sector. Nearly a million women are self-employed today in the UK.
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