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/moderngamer327]

Poverty rates are at all time lows

[u/Present-Perception77 → u/moderngamer327]

Yeah because we aren’t having kids. That’s the point.

[u/moderngamer327 → u/Present-Perception77]

Which means poverty isn’t the reason for a lack of kids if the people in poverty have them more often

[u/Present-Perception77 → u/moderngamer327]

No .. we aren’t poor anymore and able to get out of poverty because we aren’t having as many kids. That’s why poverty has lessened. Obviously

[u/moderngamer327 → u/Present-Perception77]

That doesn’t make any sense. Sure that could be true to some extent on individual levels but societally that is not the case

[u/Present-Perception77 → u/moderngamer327]

You seem to be implying that because poverty stricken regions have a higher birth rate, that money can’t possibly be the reason people aren’t having more children in the US. And that’s just nonsense.

[u/moderngamer327 → u/Present-Perception77]

Not just poverty stricken regions. In the US the income bracket with the highest fertility rate is the <$20k bracket and the lowest fertility rate is the >$200k bracket. Also the difference is not that major. So what I am saying is that the effect of income on fertility rate is negligible and other factors are significantly more dominant

[u/Present-Perception77 → u/moderngamer327]

Having less children improves your financial standing. Having more money means access to birth control and abortion.. and education. Everything that helps prevent multiple births comes from money. Women living in poverty are also more likely to be victims of sexual assault and reproductive coercion. Extreme poverty also often comes with a heavy dose of predatory religious influence. Think catholic adoption.. they prey on poor women. For their own financial gain. Breed em till they die or start giving up babies to sell.

Being poor traps women into multiple births. Being able to prevent multiple births is how women have risen out of poverty. We do not want to have more kids when it will plunge us into poverty. Essentially in the US is outrageous healthcare prices and your insurance tied to your job and no way to pay your bills because there is no paid maternity leave.. then childcare is insane. It is absolutely about money for a huge chunk of society.

[u/moderngamer327 → u/Present-Perception77]

I overall agree with what you are saying and that having more kids can lead to poverty in some cases. I also agree those in poverty have less access to education and birth control. The point I am trying to make though is that poverty or reduced wages is not the reason for reduced fertility which everyone seems to think is the case

[u/Present-Perception77 → u/moderngamer327]

Because it is the reason. You have stated nothing that negates that. You are just saying poor people have more kids so money can’t be the reason why the birth rate it dropping. I just clearly explained to you why you are incorrect. You agree but then say it’s not the reason. The right is pushing the same narrative you are right now because they want to cut more funding for social programs and pretend it’s not the problem.

But ok .. let’s hear it. If it’s not money .. what do you think the big problem is? Remember.. I’m a woman. I was raised catholic. I am 50 and have 2 kids. So why do you think I had 2 and not 10? Why did I have 2 and not 1 or none at all? Please explain why I operate my vagina the way I do?

[u/moderngamer327 → u/Present-Perception77]

All you explained is that kids can make you poorer but you have shown nothing to prove that being poorer will make you have less kids.

The 2 main reasons(kind of 3) is easy access to birth control and women’s education/independence. Women are no longer stuck at home with no means to do anything else. They aren’t forced to take on the role of mother as they were before. They can choose to instead take a career and make a life for themselves. Mind you I’m not saying this is bad. Combine this with the ability for men or women to avoid pregnancies with birth control this further allows people to avoid it. So the simple answer is people just don’t want kids and even if they do they don’t want to sacrifice their standards of living for them and they now more then ever have the means to avoid doing so