Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Americans Are Having Fewer Babies. They Told Us Why. (NY Times)
New York Times ^ | July 5, 2018 | Claire Cain Miller

Posted on 07/05/2018 2:53:18 PM PDT by Mrs. Don-o

Jessica Boer, 26, kissing her cat Kip at her home in Portage, Mich. Like an increasing number of people in her generation, she does not plan to have children. “Now we know we have a choice,” she said.

Wanting more leisure time and personal freedom; not having a partner yet; not being able to afford child-care — these were the top reasons young adults gave for not being sure they wanted children, reports a new survey conducted by Morning Consult for the NYT.

About a quarter said they expected to have fewer than they wanted. The largest shares said they delayed or stopped having children because of concerns about having enough time or money.

It is partly about greater gender equality. Women have more agency over their lives; motherhood has become more of a choice.

But it’s also a story of economic insecurity. Young people have record student debt, many graduated in a recession and can’t afford homes — all as parenthood has become more expensive.

[humungous snip]

David Carlson, 29, graduated from college in 2010, when the job market was still rough. He and his wife had $100,000 in undergraduate debt between them. They both work full time — he in corporate finance and she in counseling — but they don’t yet feel they can take time away from their careers.

He said they’d consider adoption if they decided to have children but had waited too long. Another option for having children later in life is egg freezing. Only 1 percent of female survey respondents said they had frozen their eggs — but almost half said they would if not for the cost.

Whether the young generation will catch up later is not certain, but will depend on their capacity to combine work and family.

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: birthrate; career; deathofthewest; feminism; genderwars; pregnancy
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 81-100101-120121-140 ... 161-168 next last
To: kaila
I agree with you. I never wanted kids, and had no maternal urge. It gets me angry when people get on their high horse and say we are selfish, even though my tax dollars are paying for your kids education.

Same here. I don't know why parents act like this. I'll even go so far as to say that, as a teacher, I am not usually very impressed with the "selflessness" of mothers, in particular. They're all "my child" this and "my child" that, and it seems like they want everything they can get their hands on, and use their child as their excuse for all their aggression. Like they are these selfless saints doing it all for their child. Their child is usually a cringing ball of embarrassment at their side, but they don't notice. It's really all about them.

101 posted on 07/05/2018 4:59:19 PM PDT by A_perfect_lady
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 82 | View Replies]

To: Varda

Rural living is very expensive. The land isn’t as cheap as it used to be (still cheaper than urban areas) but you spend a lot of money on gas for commuting and utilities are often higher. If you have a job that requires internet acces at home, decent rural internet is usually high cost and low quality.


102 posted on 07/05/2018 5:01:51 PM PDT by JamesP81 (Traitors are more dangerous than enemies. Vote and act accordingly.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 99 | View Replies]

To: Vaquero

Idiocracy should have won an Oscar for best documentary. Al Gore and Michael Moore won one.


103 posted on 07/05/2018 5:03:29 PM PDT by BBell (Ich bin Ein Wenig Teekanne ):>()
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: A_perfect_lady
Not to mention, most of the folks in the old folks homes DO have kids. They visit once a month.

Both of my parents are in a nursing home. Together, thankfully. I visit them at least twice a week and call them at least once a day as well.

Granted, I’m single and retired so I have a lot more free time than most people...but I don’t understand why so many people, in essence, abandon their parents.

104 posted on 07/05/2018 5:03:33 PM PDT by Simon Green ("Arm your daughter, sir, and pay no attention to petty bureaucrats.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 98 | View Replies]

To: freedumb2003

that’s true they want it all NOW.


105 posted on 07/05/2018 5:07:10 PM PDT by ronniesgal ( I wonder what his FR handle is??)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

To: Simon Green

Well... I kind of do. I’ve seen two friends my age take care of their mothers in-home, and let me tell you, a 200 lb woman who has dementia and is incontinent is no joke.


106 posted on 07/05/2018 5:07:12 PM PDT by A_perfect_lady
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 104 | View Replies]

To: colorado tanker
Oh gee...you're telling me that birth control products were readily available, to one and all, in the late 19th century and chiding me for stating actual FACTS?> LOL

Okay...let me introduce you to some more FACTUAL HISTORY!

In the last couple of decades of the 19th century, there was recessions, bank closures, and one GIGANTIC depression, that I doubt you have ever heard of. Throw in strikes and deaths due to now curable illnesses and work related incidents or maiming ones, and it adds up to some people having less children, which has been THE NORM, since time began.

Some people ( upper middle to wealthy ) people, of that era could get a form of contraceptive product; however, it was male oriented.

But people in the early years of the 20th century, could and were JAILED for trying to supply/advocate female contraceptives. And it was impossible for a unmarried woman to get one. Which only left illegal abortions as their "way out". The latter choice either leaving the woman dead or sterile.

And no, I am NOT "advocating" abortion; so you can forget about attempting to smear me with that canard.

Some people, for one reason or another have always been sterile.

Some may have had children; however, since many children once died before reaching adulthood, some couples, though they had children, wound up childless.

Then throw in war and illness, which removed one spouse from another, or took away the men whom women were or hoped to marry and never did remarry/marry anyone else...which nipped in the bud having more/any children.

So, diddums, it is YOU who are playing games re your own agenda; not I.

107 posted on 07/05/2018 5:08:27 PM PDT by nopardons
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 69 | View Replies]

To: shanover

Amen


108 posted on 07/05/2018 5:08:38 PM PDT by bert ((K.E. N.P. N.C. +12 ..... In August our cities will be burning))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 71 | View Replies]

To: Vermont Lt

Yep - Social Security is another reason...

Socialism is nothing but a Ponzi scheme.

But there is no denying the impact of the unbelievably high cost of illegal immigration.


109 posted on 07/05/2018 5:09:03 PM PDT by Vlad The Inhaler (Liberalism is the philosophy of sniveling brats. - P.J. ORourke)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 93 | View Replies]

To: knarf

.
The ones that ‘marry’ cats instead of men...


110 posted on 07/05/2018 5:18:12 PM PDT by editor-surveyor (Freepers: Not as smart as I'd hoped they'd be)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 42 | View Replies]

To: JamesP81

As you said it’s cheaper. Also true rural areas don’t have utilities like urban areas do. There’s electricity and other than that you’re on your own. Unless you’re more than rural (wilderness), there is internet. Even then there is satillite. Also jobs can be changed. People are doing it now. It’s a matter of priorities.


111 posted on 07/05/2018 5:20:14 PM PDT by Varda
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 102 | View Replies]

To: Varda

And then your kids go to a worse than lousy school.


112 posted on 07/05/2018 5:21:46 PM PDT by nopardons
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 83 | View Replies]

To: Mrs. Don-o

lack of faith might have something to do with it?


113 posted on 07/05/2018 5:22:08 PM PDT by Callnote (Solid state is the way to go!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nopardons
Yes, I am telling you this demographic trend predates widespread availability of birth control by decades and by many decades the widespread availability of abortion. You know absolutely nothing about demographic history and in particular the impact of the industrial revolution.

Good bye. When you've read up we can have a chat.

114 posted on 07/05/2018 5:23:52 PM PDT by colorado tanker
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 107 | View Replies]

To: Mrs. Don-o

Having kids to take care of you is a selfish reason.

Its done because its in what you perceive to be your best interests, which are the first and foremost reason you are doing it.


115 posted on 07/05/2018 5:28:33 PM PDT by Secret Agent Man ( Gone Galt; Not averse to Going Bronson.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 76 | View Replies]

To: editor-surveyor

yep


116 posted on 07/05/2018 5:29:02 PM PDT by knarf (I say things that are true, I have no proof, but they're true.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 110 | View Replies]

To: nopardons

Not if you pay attention. Sure some school districts are bad but not all and there is the home schooling option.


117 posted on 07/05/2018 5:31:55 PM PDT by Varda
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 112 | View Replies]

To: Theoria
And you get paid more[BAH] to have dependents.

I get additional BAH only because I'm married. It doesn't increase with more kids.

118 posted on 07/05/2018 5:32:47 PM PDT by Drew68
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 62 | View Replies]

To: Varda

It’s not much cheaper. Quality rural land is only somewhat cheaper. If it’s tillable, it probably isn’t cheaper.

If you work in an it field, quality internet at your home is not optional. Satellite is not quality. Six figures of student debt to change careers is a bad idea. As for what other people are doing 1) it doesn’t matter and 2) they probably aren’t doing as well as they look. See my previous comment. It’s absurd how many millennials are still leaching off Mom and Dad.

Just my observations. My income situation is sitting pretty good personally, but I can see why millennials thin their parents are clueless. About many things...they are.


119 posted on 07/05/2018 5:36:13 PM PDT by JamesP81 (Traitors are more dangerous than enemies. Vote and act accordingly.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 111 | View Replies]

To: Drew68
that being in the military, healthcare costs not a penny for my family

Wow, I did not know that. So healthcare is free for everyone in the military? Including things like child birth etc.?

120 posted on 07/05/2018 5:41:29 PM PDT by nwrep
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 39 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 81-100101-120121-140 ... 161-168 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson