Starting a family : A study about young women´s thoughts and experiences around starting a family and having children

Statistics show that women are increasingly postponing their childbearing, compared to how it looked before. Research shows that many of today's women both want to get an education, get a job and have time to realize themselves before having their first child. The purpose of this essay is to examine young adult women's expectations and priorities regarding starting a family and having children. The aim of this research is also to increase the understanding of what is considered important to achieve in life for young women. To answer the question, a qualitative method is used in the form of semi-structured interviews with ten young adult women. The theoretical starting point is individualization, but also forms of capital to create understanding for social groups in the society. The results of the survey shows that all except one woman plan to have children in the future. The results of the survey also shows that education, work, self-fulfillment and a stable relationship are reasons why having children can be postponed.