This is kind of whatever… basically white boomer doomism as a result of later childbirth. White people, especially privileged white people, are definitely having less kids, but that’s not true for everyone. My theory is that it’s because if you grew up with white privilege, you expect to be able to give your child that same level of privilege. If you can’t, it seems “impossible.” If you grew up poor, you know that you just make it work (if you want to). Like, I grew up poor and am not white. The idea that I “need” to own a house to consider having children is hilarious to me. My parents still rent.
People are having kids. Most people who are younger than 30 are astounded to realize just how many women do have children – according to Pew, 85% of Gen X women have children. Trends for millennial women are slightly lower but not much. The idea that this is some emergency is just dumb alarmism.
When they polled people aged 18-30 in the 90s and 2010s, and 2020s, the amount of people who said they would never have children is lower than now, but not by much. Some people change their mind and a significant majority of people do have children, especially if you’re not white or Asian. There is a very real racial difference though, so I’m not just bringing that up for no reason.
Regardless, it’s people’s choice. Whenever I see articles like this, it always seems kinda “Great Replacement Theory” adjacent. In my head I always put (white) in the title. I.e., a smaller percentage of (white) baby boomers have grandchildren, and (white) boomers are (scared they’re going to be replaced).
This is kind of whatever… basically white boomer doomism as a result of later childbirth. White people, especially privileged white people, are definitely having less kids, but that’s not true for everyone. My theory is that it’s because if you grew up with white privilege, you expect to be able to give your child that same level of privilege. If you can’t, it seems “impossible.” If you grew up poor, you know that you just make it work (if you want to). Like, I grew up poor and am not white. The idea that I “need” to own a house to consider having children is hilarious to me. My parents still rent.
People are having kids. Most people who are younger than 30 are astounded to realize just how many women do have children – according to Pew, 85% of Gen X women have children. Trends for millennial women are slightly lower but not much. The idea that this is some emergency is just dumb alarmism.
When they polled people aged 18-30 in the 90s and 2010s, and 2020s, the amount of people who said they would never have children is lower than now, but not by much. Some people change their mind and a significant majority of people do have children, especially if you’re not white or Asian. There is a very real racial difference though, so I’m not just bringing that up for no reason.
Regardless, it’s people’s choice. Whenever I see articles like this, it always seems kinda “Great Replacement Theory” adjacent. In my head I always put (white) in the title. I.e., a smaller percentage of (white) baby boomers have grandchildren, and (white) boomers are (scared they’re going to be replaced).