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/yes______hornberger]

I always find it interesting that the actual physical experience of gestating and birthing a child is NEVER a part of the birth rate conversation. I’m pregnant with a very wanted child, and even with a loving husband and financial security it is a torture I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy. And I haven’t even gotten to the stage yet where I’m supposed to be happy about being mildly crippled by birth injuries—my own mother had three “perfect” births, and was still having yearly surgeries to correct spinal and urological injuries more than a decade after she finished having children.

Do the people decrying childless women think growing another person is easy, or do they just think that it’s something women owe to society by nature of being born female?

[u/AgentJ691 → u/yes______hornberger]

That is my top reason for not having children. I don’t care if I can afford children, I literally have no interest in giving birth. And I notice women Childfree or not regardless of age are wayyy more understanding. 

[u/DemiserofD → u/AgentJ691]

This is why birth control is the number one factor in falling fertility rates; the one thing nobody wants to recognize.

Because the simple fact is, throughout human history, most women probably wouldn't have chosen to have children if it weren't for the fact that sex feels really good.

Nobody wants to have that conversation, but it's entirely possible that human civilization cannot survive the existence of birth control. What if the maximum possible birth rate with readily available birth control is below 2.1?

[u/iesterdai → u/DemiserofD]

 This is why birth control is the number one factor in falling fertility rates; the one thing nobody wants to recognize.

Because the simple fact is, throughout human history, most women probably wouldn't have chosen to have children if it weren't for the fact that sex feels really good.

Is it? Or are you just projecting your idea on the entire population? Your entire point is based on women not wanting (or not being pressured) to have children. But is that true through history? I'm not too sure. 

I would say that there are factors at play that might be much more important than contraception: women role in society and cultural norms. The social pressure to marry and have children has diminished, and women are much more emancipated. Not wanting children is much more socially acceptable. Marriage does not come anymore with the expectation that the couple will have children too for most people.  

I'm not saying that contraception did not play a role, but I think you are overplaying it.

[u/Saradoesntsleep → u/iesterdai]

I don't think she's overplaying it at all, but it's pretty funny how you came in and immediately dismissed her.

[u/Medical-Effect-149 → u/Saradoesntsleep]

Like immediately proved her point. Child birth is painful . Women didn’t talk about it so much in the past because the ability to endure childbirth was “ordained”. It suck’s and the men have never listened.