Abstract

D'ALOISIO, Fulvia. One Child or At Least Two: A Study on Low Fertility in Naples. Alteridades [online]. 2009, vol.19, n.38, pp.07-19. ISSN 2448-850X.

Based on the second demographic transition theory, where changes in culture and values influence reproduction and the conception of family, this paper describes low fertility in Italy. An ethnographic study of the City of Napoles, based on demographic literature, finds a trend which favors having at least two children. This family model is not only inspired by the Italian legacy of large families, but rather as a syncretic compromise between controlling fertility and the possibility of benefitting from relationships between families as a mechanism of defense from postmodern instability.

Keywords : demographic transition theory; ethnography; reproductive behavior; single child; siblings; offspring.

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