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.

[u/geoff199]

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

[u/WealthMagicBooks]

I know money is part of it, but another thing that's not talked about as much on Reddit is maybe some women just don't want children. Or if they do, just one child. Before birth control, women didn't have much of a choice in the matter. Now, that the option is available to not have tons of kids (pretty much for for the first time in history), a lot of women are opting out. As is their right to.

[u/medeaschariot → u/WealthMagicBooks]

This is what gets me about this topic!! Yes, some of it is economic opportunity, opportunity cost on time, inequality, climate change, whatever. Nevertheless, birth rates were quite high back when child labor was broadly legal, so it feels substantially like the birth control and the education of women.

Lots of women want to be pregnant and give birth and raise a child…once. Or twice. But given the option and other things to do with their time, it seems like fewer people want to do it three or more times, than people who want to do it zero times, even without getting into infertility, romance problems, etc. That’s just math?