Childfree movement: Forget baby boom, people just don’t want kids anymore

#couples #children #parenting

A growing number of American adults, who aren’t already parents, see no point in making more humans, finds a new survey. 

Around 44 per cent of non-parents aged 18 to 49 say it’s not too likely, or not at all likely for them to ever have children as per the Pew Research Centre report. This is an increase of 7 per cent in the same group that was also surveyed in 2018.

Factors like apathy, financial instability, medical problems and the world feeling too ‘bleak’ were the top reasons for their choice to abstain from parenthood. 

Notably, Americans are not alone in this sentiment. In a recent survey, around 41 per cent of young Indians also expressed hesitance in having their own children, due to the diminishing state of the planet. 

The movement to be 'childfree' 

The ‘childfree’ movement has also gained momentum on social media where more couples and, especially women who have chosen to not have kids are amplifying conversations about personal freedom.

While the childfree phenomenon isn't new, the pandemic may have brought more people into its fold. The outbreak has given people more time to rethink and reset their priorities. It also highlighted shortcomings of the healthcare system and magnified economic insecurities.

In fact, a new study confirms that for most high-income countries, the expected pandemic baby boom was actually a bust. Appearing in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA, the research found that 7 of the 22 rich economies studied saw a statistically significant birth decline in the final months of 2020. 

Even in India where a pandemic baby boom was predicted by the UN, the National Family Health Survey data for 2019-21 shows that India's population has stagnated as the nation's total fertility rate has dropped for the first time. 

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[theMermaidRhonda]

More and more people are realizing that children are an option, not an obligation.

[jacwindsor]

Who the hell wants to be saddled with a kid, trapped for life, and then be dumped by the father to deal with the burden of kids alone.

[rebeccaw_artist]

why the hell did they think there was going to be a baby boom during a pandemic???? that sounds so dumb

[zebrafinch]

When your parent didn't want you it makes you certain you don't do the same mistake

[beaulieuonnp]

I don't want children. I don't like people. I don't want to die young in childbirth, I don't want the pain. I want my Freedom above everything. I don't even have pets. 56 and very happy without kids. I absolutely love my lyins.

[noway]

There are so many garbage humans already, broken families, unwanted children... existence is hell. Who would want the throw a child into an inferno. Babies that are born today are mostly due to irresponsibility, then the child suffers. Humans are animals who are no more in control of themselves than a monkey.

There are no altruistic reasons to have children.

[Europa]

"Who's going to look after you when you're no guarantees your adult children will even visit you. I worked as a weekend receptionist in a nursing home and saw for myself how few elderly parents visited their children. One elderly lady wheeled up to my window and was crying because her children had put her in there three weeks earlier and she hadn't seen them since.

[gotohellimp]

I don't want kids because I think babies are gross 😑

[attitudeproblem]

I love how everyone was predicting a tidal wave of babies b/c of lockdown! Like when you’re convinced money is coming and it _doesn’t._ 😂 They thought we weee about to pull them up outta the slump! And everyone was like, “Yeah, naa.”

[mariecoedwig]

I'm very happy that some young women in the world don't want to have kids. They're like warriors but I'm french and I worked with old persons. I'm sorry to say to the most recent generations that childfree women are always existed. It's not new. A lot of women didn't want kids because they wanted to keep their bossy jobs (and have adventures with beautiful guys.) yes! what a scoop! I don't like that these young women think they're superior than their elders. And for your informations, when you're getting old, you're quite happy to have kids, even one. A lot of old ladies get old and die alone...it's sad to see that.