Page:Fielding - Sex and the Love Life.pdf/121

the remuneration is often insufficient for more than bare personal needs.

There is the possibility, when an early marriage is earnestly desired, of the girl contributing to the success of the plan by augmenting the income, if she is prepared by training to do so, as girls and women are becoming economically independent in increasing numbers. Even this arrangement, however, will fall through if pregnancy occurs, which will soon keep the young wife home. And not only will the household be deprived of her portion of the maintenance, but the normal household expenses will eventually be increased by the expenses of the confinement, and the permanent additional expense of the child, perhaps to be followed by others.

If it were possible for young couples so situated to have access to reliable contraceptive, or birth control, information, so that they could postpone the coming of children until such time as the income of the husband would meet the family needs, then this phase of the problem would be solved. In more and more instances, married people are becoming informed upon this important subject, as the birth statistics show, notwithstanding the obstacles that are thrown in the way by those who would make parenthood an accident of chance, instead of a voluntary act.

Advice is frequently desired on the question of marriage between blood relatives (consanguineous marriage), either as a matter of general information, or for personal reasons by those considering marriage with a blood relative. This question usually comes up in connection with the marriage, or prospective marriage, of cousins (either first or second), nephew and aunt, or niece and uncle.