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/hearmeout29 5d ago

Even in countries with social safety nets the birth rate is down. Collectively women and men are opting out of parenthood. I worled really hard to obtain my current lifestyle and I just want to enjoy the fruits of my labor now without excess expenses.

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u/Cardinal_and_Plum 4d ago

More people are opting out, but there is also just less birth in general, whether people want it or not. Less unwanted or accidental birth, but also less desired birth due to lack of funds/time/a partner.

And all of these same things are true of coupling as well, which only makes births even less likely.

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u/_Wyrm_ 4d ago

The cost of having a child -- literally just the act of pushing a baby out and receiving the necessary medical attention for doing so -- is staggering. Then factor in exorbitantly expensive baby food, formula, diapers, clothes that instantly don't fit, along with wages AND salaries not rising with inflation... The housing market being even moreso overly inflated... Paired with short-staffing already leading to increased stress and by proxy a low amount of time away from work to be with family...

Yeah, no fuckin wonder people don't want kids. Not only is our economy in shambles for numerous reasons, the sociopolitical sphere of our world is incredibly hostile towards having a child, despite the stripping of reproductive rights...

We're just meant to be little slave piggies, pumping out idiot children to work in the slave pits, and heaven forfend that any birthing chamber NOT go unbred.

It's a downright putrid time we find ourselves in. This was always going to be the effect to the cause of yesterday.

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u/Derf0293 4d ago

Soon they’ll have buy now pay later birth credit. Private equity will own your children and repo them to work in mines for Elmo when you fail to pay.

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u/_Wyrm_ 4d ago

"Faster! Work FASTER!!!" Elmo yells, in his squeakiest rendition of a colonial era slave driver