Podcast Summary
Global population decline: Factors including education and career opportunities, rising child-rearing costs, and cultural shifts towards personal fulfillment are contributing to a global population decline, particularly in the US
The global population is expected to peak and decline in this century due to various factors including women's education and work opportunities, and the rising cost of raising a child as economies become more affluent. This trend is particularly noticeable in the US, where the birth rate has reached a historic low. The authors of a new book, "What Are Children For," argue that this decline in fertility is not just an economic issue, but also a cultural shift towards prioritizing career and personal fulfillment over marriage and children. This cultural shift, especially among young progressives, is leading to fewer children being born.
Cultural reasons for declining childbirth rates: The authors argue that cultural narratives and societal expectations around motherhood and career may be driving people away from starting families, rather than economic factors alone.
The declining childbirth rates around the world, particularly in the West and the US, are a complex issue with far-reaching consequences for economics, migration, geopolitics, and even warfare. The authors of "What Are Children For?" approached this topic from a unique perspective, asking why people should have children in the first place and what role they play in modern life. They argue that to understand this trend, we must explore the cultural and philosophical reasons behind it, rather than solely focusing on economic factors. The authors also challenge the notion that people are not having children due to a lack of suitable partners or economic instability, as these explanations do not fully account for the trend. Instead, they suggest that cultural narratives and societal expectations around motherhood and career may be driving people away from starting families. The book invites readers to question the assumption that postponing family in favor of professional and personal growth is a good decision. Ultimately, the authors argue that to truly understand this trend, we must look beyond broad historical narratives and consider the personal stories and experiences of individuals.
Cost of having children: In modern societies, having children is seen as a costly decision due to the abundance of leisure time and entertainment options, prioritizing careers and personal growth, and the concept of delayed adulthood.
In modern affluent societies, having children is increasingly being viewed as a costly decision rather than a natural life milestone. This shift is due to the abundance of leisure time and entertainment options, which raises the opportunity cost of having a child. Young people today prioritize their careers, personal growth, and financial stability over starting a family, viewing it as just one option among many. This trend is further highlighted by the fact that only 26% of Americans see having children as a necessary part of a fulfilling life. The concept of delayed adulthood, where the 20s are seen as a time for self-discovery and personal fulfillment, also contributes to this trend. People feel they need to establish themselves before considering starting a family, leading to a delay in having children until later in life.
Modern dating script and gender dynamics: The modern dating script and gender dynamics contribute to the postponement of starting families, even in countries with robust social welfare systems.
While economic factors play a role in declining fertility rates, particularly for millennials, they do not fully explain the phenomenon. International comparisons show that even in countries with robust social welfare systems, birth rates are not significantly increasing. Furthermore, the modern dating script has changed, with people viewing romance and family as separate goals, leading to reluctance to discuss starting a family during the dating process. This gender dynamic, coupled with the perceived conflict between having children and progressive ideologies, contributes to the postponement of starting families. Economic factors, while important, do not tell the whole story.
Feminist thoughts on motherhood: Feminist views on motherhood have changed from advocating for women's liberation from it during second-wave feminism, to seeing it as a private decision in the 1980s, to current debates on its place in feminist thought with some expressing anti-natalist views due to personal reasons and societal pressures.
The history of feminist thought regarding motherhood and feminism's relationship to it has evolved significantly. Second-wave feminism in the 1950s, 60s, and 70s advocated for women's liberation from the confines of motherhood to enter public life. Some feminists, like Shulamith Firestone, held a suspicion that motherhood was at the core of gender inequality and proposed radical solutions like mechanical wombs to free women from it. However, by the 1980s, the conversation had shifted to the idea that the decision to have children was a private one. Today, some people on the left express anti-natalist views, citing climate change as a reason for not having children, but this is not the primary reason for many people's ambivalence about parenthood. Instead, personal reasons often play a larger role, and the reference to climate change may be a way to express these reasons in a socially acceptable way. The question of whether motherhood and parenthood fit into feminist thought is still an open one, and it's important to recognize the complexity of the issue and the various reasons people have for their decisions.
Anxiety and fatherhood: Anxiety about the future and lack of clear models of positive masculinity contribute to uncertainty around bringing children into the world. High-income parents feel a duty to provide a high quality of life, leading to intensive parenting and high expectations, which can be stressful. Open conversations and a clearer vision of positive masculinity and fatherhood are needed.
In today's world, many people are feeling uncertain and anxious about the future, leading some to question whether they want to bring children into such a world. This anxiety is linked to a lack of clear models of positive masculinity and fatherhood, particularly on the left, and the tension between children being more optional and more precious than ever before. Parents, especially high-income ones, feel a duty to provide their children with a high quality of life, leading to intensive parenting and high expectations, which can be stressful and difficult to navigate. To address these issues, there is a need for more open conversations about fatherhood and pre-fatherhood, as well as a clearer vision of positive masculinity and fatherhood.
The importance of human future in parenthood: Recognizing the importance of a human future can help individuals make informed decisions about parenthood, as it offers the opportunity for personal growth and contributing to the goodness of future generations.
That the modern perception of parenthood is often characterized by high expectations, fear, worry, and anxiety, leading some to view having children as unattractive. However, there is a positive case for parenthood, as most people are already committed to the goodness of a human future. By having children and contributing to their upbringing, individuals can do their part in ensuring a robust human future. Despite the challenges and exhaustion of parenthood, it also offers the opportunity to discover new aspects of oneself and experience profound joy. Ultimately, the decision to have children is a personal one, but recognizing the importance of a human future can help guide the decision-making process.