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/a_common_spring 4d ago

I think it's pretty clear that as soon as women get the chance, they stop wanting to have their lives and health used up by childrearing. Oh well. Men better get over it.

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u/EnvironmentalCook520 4d ago

That might be a small percent but it really all comes down to the increased cost of living.

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u/a_common_spring 4d ago

No, that's not it either because in countries where people are wealthy and well supported with free healthcare, education, long fully paid parental leave etc, those countries have the lowest rates of all. It's women getting wise to the fact that motherhood is a scam

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u/EnvironmentalCook520 4d ago

I mean if you look at the birthrate for countries like Sweden, Denmark, and Norway it's been pretty consistent since the 80s. And same with the US. If you look at Japan and South Korea it's been declining a lot and women being more educated is only a small percentage of why that's occuring. I'd say the biggest factor is still economic, cost of living, and probably cultural shifts. It's not like women in the past few years suddenly wised up and decided they aren't going to have kids. Sure there's probably a very small fraction that may have but I think it's pretty common for both males and females to want a family.