The timing of motherhood, early or late, may be the outcome of a deliberate strategy or it
may be unintended, early because of unplanned pregnancy, or late because of unplanned
infertility (or unanticipated absence of a suitable partner). Probably each type of account
applies to some individuals (Allen & Bourke Dowling, 1998, Wellings et al 1996,
Hewlett, 2002). Prejudices about teenage mothers are widespread, poorly informed and
especially when held by professionals supposed to be offering support to these families,
can be part of the compounding of problems the youngest mothers face (YWCA 2004).
Whether early motherhood constitutes a rational choice in the face of limited alternatives
in education or employment, or a lack of planning and poor information, any differential
outcomes for families started early and late are certainly not chosen by the child.
Whatever its cause, young age at motherhood could be viewed as a signal of
disadvantage on a number of fronts, including consequences for the children (Pevalin
2003).
We investigate how far early motherhood is associated with low initial resources and how
far later motherhood is associated with economic advantages and the accumulation of the
woman’s human capital. Do the apparent advantages of delaying motherhood extend up
to the biological limit? If mothers starting their families in their late twenties are better
off than those starting sooner? Does this also apply to postponing motherhood still
further into the thirties? Are the particularly late entrants to motherhood particularly
advantaged initially and do their current circumstances suggest they and their families
gain economic advantages from delay?