Only Not Lonely
Is it really so odd to have an only child?
Even today the stereotype continues that only children are selfish, spoiled and lonely 鈥 it鈥檚 the so-called 鈥渙nly child syndrome鈥. But around the world one-child families are becoming more common. So why do some parents decide to have only one child? And how much does it have to do with circumstance and economics?
Harriet Noble, an only child herself, travels across Europe and speaks to three families, each with one child.
Despite a tradition of large families, these days Portugal one of the largest percentages of only children in the EU. In Lisbon, Harriet meets football loving mother and daughter Sofia and Diana, both only children, their stories reflects the intricacies of modern life and global economics.
It鈥檚 a different case 3,000km away in Sweden which has one of the the lowest percentages of only children in the EU 鈥 in part due to generous state support. In Stockholm Harriet meets Therese, her decision to have just one child was greeted with confusion and anger by friends.
Finally, Harriet goes home to the south-west England to speak to her own parents, and for the first time asks how come she is an only child.
Last on
Clips
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Choosing to have an only child: 'People were offended'
Duration: 07:29
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The truth about only children - why the stereotype is wrong
Duration: 01:06
Broadcasts
- Tue 3 Jul 2018 12:32GMT成人快手 World Service except News Internet
- Tue 3 Jul 2018 21:06GMT成人快手 World Service except East and Southern Africa, News Internet & West and Central Africa
- Wed 4 Jul 2018 01:32GMT成人快手 World Service except News Internet
- Sat 7 Jul 2018 13:06GMT成人快手 World Service East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa only
- Sat 7 Jul 2018 17:32GMT成人快手 World Service Australasia, South Asia & East Asia only
- Mon 9 Jul 2018 05:06GMT成人快手 World Service Americas and the Caribbean
- Wed 31 Oct 2018 11:32GMT成人快手 World Service except West and Central Africa
- Wed 31 Oct 2018 18:32GMT成人快手 World Service Australasia
- Wed 31 Oct 2018 21:32GMT成人快手 World Service East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa only
- Wed 31 Oct 2018 23:32GMT成人快手 World Service except East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa
- Thu 1 Nov 2018 02:32GMT成人快手 World Service
- Sun 4 Nov 2018 18:32GMT成人快手 World Service News Internet
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