Fifty years ago, being a parent was almost an obligation. Today, some American politicians criticize women who choose not to have children. It is important to recognize that childlessness is not unique to American women. Over the past 50 years, birth rates have declined dramatically around the world, including in China, Japan, Europe, and the United States. Furthermore, an analysis of data from nearly 200 countries in 2020 found that the average number of children a woman gave birth to fell from 4.7 in 1950 to 2.4 in 2017. This trend has not gone unnoticed. However, a complete explanation is difficult to find. Some scientists speculate about the effects of environmental toxins such as “permanent chemicals” that can impair sperm count and motility. Consistent with this estimate, about 20 percent of Americans who want to become parents face infertility problems.
Many recent polls have found that various psychological factors are also at play.
According to a recent Pew Research Center poll, about one-third of young people of childbearing age (ages 18 to 34) are unsure whether they want to have children, and about 20% don’t think they want to have children. Any child who answered that they have already decided not to have one wants one. This follows an increase between 2018 and 2021 in the proportion of non-parents under the age of 50 who said they were ‘not very likely’ or ‘not at all likely’ to have children (respectively). 16% vs. 21%, 21% vs. 23%). Economic realities also play a big role. With mortgage rates high and many high-income middle-class jobs eliminated, it’s much more difficult to move out of your parents’ home and buy your first starter home. Financial insecurity often causes women to postpone the decision to have children until they are financially stable. In some cases, the body clock is too advanced.
Today, in most developed countries, women have options other than motherhood and often feel the need to choose a lifestyle that better suits their interests and goals. Research shows that climate and political realities also play a big role in their decisions.
A meta-analysis found that concern about the effects of global climate change significantly influenced the desire to have children. 39% of young people around the world report that they are hesitant about having children because they are concerned about the long-term effects of climate change on their children’s future quality of life. This is in contrast to past generations, who felt that children contributed to the future success of society. Climatologists warn that within the next 50 to 75 years, our children will experience extremely difficult and challenging environments.
Many countries, including many companies in the United States, do not have paid parental leave policies, and child care is either expensive or not easily available. Working mothers then experience more stress and less satisfaction with their lives and relationships. Only about one-third of married mothers report high relationship satisfaction, while about two-thirds of married women without children report high relationship satisfaction. I’m doing it.
Do women regret not having children when they get older? A recent study from Michigan State University reports that approximately 20 percent of Michigan adults are childless by choice. did. The study found no evidence that childless older adults experience more life regret than older parents. This finding is consistent with studies in other developed countries, where around 5% to 15% of parents say they wish they had made the decision not to have children. The reason for this level of regret has not been made clear.
In the United States, the recent loss of reproductive rights has further complicated a woman’s decision to become pregnant. Depending on which state a woman lives in, an accidental pregnancy can have fatal consequences. This is no simple matter, considering that according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about half of pregnancies in the United States are unplanned. Pregnancy always carries significant risks. Today, those risks are amplified by politicians. Some states allow exceptions for rape and incest, which essentially means politicians are only allowed control of a woman’s body if someone violates her first.
Humanity currently faces two existential threats to its future: the effects of global climate change on humanity’s ability to adapt and survive, and a significant reduction in the number of habitable humans on Earth. .
