Women and Demographic Change Practice Test

A secondary source comparing export-processing zones and rural farming regions notes that when women gain access to paid work, some households postpone childbearing due to wage opportunities, childcare costs, and changing expectations about women’s roles. The author cautions, however, that the relationship varies by job security, wages, and workplace protections, and that women actively weigh trade-offs rather than simply reacting to “the economy.” Which claim best matches this explanation of women’s economic opportunities and demographic transition?

Secondary source excerpt (embedded): Demographers describe a feedback between women’s schooling and fertility: fewer births can allow families to invest more in each child’s education, and more education can further delay childbearing. However, the authors stress the feedback is contingent on school costs, labor markets, and norms about girls’ mobility. In some areas, schooling increases but early marriage persists, weakening the fertility effect. Which option best matches this nuanced interpretation of female education and fertility decline?