Women having fewer kids, if any
Categories: Just for moms, In the news, Mommy wars
A new Census Bureau report confirms something most of us already suspected: women are waiting longer to have children than they did 30 years ago. What might be a little surprising is the fact that more women than ever are choosing not to have children at all. In fact, the numbers show that a whopping 20 percent of women ages 40 to 44 have never had children.
"A lot of women are not having any children," said Jane Lawler Dye, a Census Bureau researcher. "It used to be sort of expected that there was a phase of life where you had children, and a lot of women aren't doing that now,"she said.
The report also reveals that the more education a woman has, the less likely she is to become a mother. Clearly more women are taking advantages of the opportunities available now that didn't exist 30 years ago. But these numbers suggest - at least to me - that women may be giving up on the idea of 'having it all'. Sure, the big job can be managed at the same time as a full family life. But it isn't easy and eventually something has to give. It would seem that for many women, what gives is motherhood.
"A lot of women are not having any children," said Jane Lawler Dye, a Census Bureau researcher. "It used to be sort of expected that there was a phase of life where you had children, and a lot of women aren't doing that now,"she said.
The report also reveals that the more education a woman has, the less likely she is to become a mother. Clearly more women are taking advantages of the opportunities available now that didn't exist 30 years ago. But these numbers suggest - at least to me - that women may be giving up on the idea of 'having it all'. Sure, the big job can be managed at the same time as a full family life. But it isn't easy and eventually something has to give. It would seem that for many women, what gives is motherhood.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Maritza 8-25-2008 @ 7:22PM
I agree with this article there are alot of women choosing not to have children. i am planning to have kids maybe until im thirty. i am twenty yrs old and having a child at this age or any time soon will defenitely ruin my plans of finishing school and having a career. My fiance as well choses to support the idea until he finishes school. I know a lot of intellegent women who dont think of becoming mothers until having their carrers. i also know others who have had misfortunes and got pregnant in high-school.
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Sandyone 8-26-2008 @ 9:31PM
"have had misfortunes and got pregnant in high-school."
Actually, they had *sex* and got pregnant.
(sorry, that just struck me as funny)
mckenna 8-26-2008 @ 1:01PM
I've run into a few women in my profession who aren't having kids. I think it's probably pretty common among female attorneys. One actually had her tubes tied in her early 20's, so it was definitely a decision. She absolutely didn't like kids (or puppies for that matter...).
For 3 other women, I think it had more to do with not finding the right partner or not making the time for it during the childbearing years. I think science gives a false sense of security that you'll be able to do it when you have all the other pieces of life in place. They don't really talk about why they didn't have kids, but they clearly enjoy baby pics and kids in general. Three other women who waited until their mid to late 30's had to go through extensive IVF, and very nearly weren't able to conceive. I think a good chunk of that 20% may be more a matter of misplaced priorities than choosing not to have them.
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