The aim of this master thesis originates from the paradox: that the fertility rates are declining in Denmark despite the presence of family welfare policies which support family formation. In order to explain the paradox, a qualitative examination of women's reflections on future family formation – viewed as an ongoing process – was conducted.
This qualitative study focus on how young women, aged 25-30, in long-term relationships experience the decision-making process on family formation. Whereas the part of low fertility that is related to postponing behaviour is the focus. The empirical data consist of eight semi structured interviews.
The theoretical framework was selected in order to cover both the structural and the individual level of the family formation process. The analysis uses various theories within the area related to late modernity conditions as well as theories regarding family formation processes.
A combination of the deductive and inductive approach is used in the data collection as well as the analysis. Accordingly, the theoretical framework is used as an interpretation frame in the analysis of the empirical data.
The analysis of the decision process on family formation shows, that there is five focal points of the decision-making in the family formation process. The five focal points are related to: career ambitions, the biological aspect of family formation, the relationship, the perspective of the everyday life after family formation and the perspective of how to get ready for family formation
The most significant barrier to women’s desire for family formation, is that they don’t feel ready for family formation. even though they already have an assumption, that they are never going to be ready for family formation.
The decision-making process has a conflicting character because there is a discrepancy between what the women say and what they do regarding the family formation process. The analysis shows, that the approach on family formation in late modernity no longer is a matter of natural issues, but is a matter of other rational issues. Accordingly, this contributes to the postponing behaviour, because of the uncertainty related to the family formation process.