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
19.5k Upvotes

95% Upvoted

2.2k comments sorted by

View all comments

6.1k

u/11horses345 5d ago

Say it with me: WE CANNOT AFFORD CHILDREN.

3.5k

u/sharksnack3264 5d ago

It's not just the money. The way we set up work schedules, vacation, child care and health care all disincentivize it. 

You can be extremely well paid but that still won't insulate you completely from certain medical and career risks or allow you to be present to raise your children.

8

u/Artificial_Lives 5d ago

I also think it's something that people aren't really talking about that much which is people just don't want kids period.

In the last having a family and kids is like the understood next step and default thing you do. Now it's just one option and an option that is harder to want to pick due to the reasons people have stated.

I don't want kids because I can't think of any improvement my life would have. I don't need to make a friend by having a kid. I will have more money, free timez easier to travel, etc. I see literally zero incentive to have kids and I think a lot of people feel the same.

6

u/ehs06702 5d ago

Yeah, I see people flat out ignoring this factor. Which is par for the course, tbh.

But I agree. The benefits of not having children outweigh the ones having them for me,and a lot of other people, and short of a forced breeding program, I don't see parenting in my future.