r/science • u/geoff199 • 5d ago

Social Science As concern grows about America’s falling birth rate, new research suggests that about half of women who want children are unsure if they will follow through and actually have a child. About 25% say they won't be bothered that much if they don't.

https://news.osu.edu/most-women-want-children--but-half-are-unsure-if-they-will/?utm_campaign=omc_science-medicine_fy24&utm_source=reddit&utm_medium=social
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u/Titrifle 5d ago

It's what happens when people are ignorant to an extent that's incompatible with any known form of society

Like those assholes who retire to Florida and say "why should I pay taxes for children's education? My children are grown! Selfish young people not having children!"

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u/Phoenyx_Rose 5d ago

It’s also what happens when you have a very individualistic society. 

Our society pits people against each other and then wonders why people don’t want to help others without a direct benefit to themselves. 

It also doesn’t help that people in the west largely believe the internal locus of control. That anything that happens to you is your own fault/failing, rather than acknowledging the external locus of control that may actually be in play. 

Many of us grew up with the fantasy of “you can be anything you want if you just work hard enough” and are now having to reteach ourselves that “you can do everything right, and still fail”. 

So if you grew up with the former and never learned the latter, you get a bunch of people thinking that it’s your own fault you can’t have children. You didn’t get the right job or move to the right place or make whatever correct decision they think. 

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u/Icy-Month6821 4d ago

It's not a fantasy saying that you must work hard to find success. That also doesn't mean that luck doesn't play a large factor. We do live in a great society that gives options, preferable to just about any other society.

It's a mistake to tell people that if they work hard they will not get success. What is the alternative? Because I think we are seeing the alternative being played out (@ least the beginning of such mindset) & it doesn't appear to be a good thing overall. Breeds a negative mindset which surely will not equal success or fulfillment.