Women Explain Why They Aren’t Having Babies In Response To Declining Birth Rate Reports

A recent report that the birth rate has continued to decline in the United States has prompted some strong responses.

Centers for Disease Control data released on Wednesday shows 2020 births have declined for the sixth year in a row, despite many expecting a sort of baby boom to start nine months after many Americans began spending more time at home thanks to the pandemic.

A New York Times article on the subject offers up a number of possible reasons—better access to birth control, economic uncertainty, women simply choosing to have kids at a later age—but most coverage of the report seems to paint the decline as largely negative.

A headline for The Washington Post jumps right to “how other countries have tried to persuade people to have more children.” The Associated Press seems to blame pandemic anxiety. NPR stresses how there aren’t enough babies being born “for a generation to exactly replace itself.”

And this is nothing new. As mentioned, this is the sixth year the birth rate has declined, and older generations have been lamenting it the entire time, making it just one of many disappointments they blame millennials for.

Never mind that plenty of humans are still being born—it’s not like America is going to run out of babies any time soon. More than anything, it often seems like the dismay over the dropping birth rate is linked to frustration with how norms and tradition are changing, and people are less inclined to do things just because it’s the way it’s always been done.

the declining birth rate in our country has forced me to ask myself a couple tough questions such as “who cares” and “so what”

— (@YuckyTom)
May 5, 2021

In reality, as the gap between the wealthy and the rest of us continues to widen, it becomes more and more difficult to have children. And rather than simply continue on with tradition, would-be parents are having to consider whether it’s responsible to bring children into the world if they can’t adequately provide for them.

US birthdate at a historic low. Not surprising. In order to have a child in this country you need money, a supportive partner/team, childcare, flexible work schedule etc. Parenthood in the US is reserved for the privileged and young Americans know it.

— Tanzina Vega (@tanzinavega)
May 5, 2021

It’s almost like if you saddle a generation with massive debt, then hit them with the 2nd economic crisis of their working lives, while simultaneously showing how little your society cares about children or care-giving, they will make choices accordingly https://t.co/01NoUOZSN0

— Leah Greenberg (@Leahgreenb)
May 5, 2021

If your “why is the birthrate decreasing” story doesn’t talk about student debt, untenable childcare and healthcare costs, housing costs, patriarchy & the enduring unequal distribution of labor in the home it is not a good “why is the birthrate decreasing” story

— Anne Helen Petersen (@annehelen)
May 5, 2021

alsoA recent report that the birth rate has continued to decline in the United States has prompted some strong responses.

Centers for Disease Control data released on Wednesday shows 2020 births have declined for the sixth year in a row, despite many expecting a sort of baby boom to start nine months after many Americans began spending more time at home thanks to the pandemic.

A New York Times article on the subject offers up a number of possible reasons—better access to birth control, economic uncertainty, women simply choosing to have kids at a later age—but most coverage of the report seems to paint the decline as largely negative.

A headline for The Washington Post jumps right to “how other countries have tried to persuade people to have more children.” The Associated Press seems to blame pandemic anxiety. NPR stresses how there aren’t enough babies being born “for a generation to exactly replace itself.”

And this is nothing new. As mentioned, this is the sixth year the birth rate has declined, and older generations have been lamenting it the entire time, making it just one of many disappointments they blame millennials for.

Never mind that plenty of humans are still being born—it’s not like America is going to run out of babies any time soon. More than anything, it often seems like the dismay over the dropping birth rate is linked to frustration with how norms and tradition are changing, and people are less inclined to do things just because it’s the way it’s always been done.

the declining birth rate in our country has forced me to ask myself a couple tough questions such as “who cares” and “so what”

— ???????????? ???????????? (@YuckyTom)
May 5, 2021

In reality, as the gap between the wealthy and the rest of us continues to widen, it becomes more and more difficult to have children. And rather than simply continue on with tradition, would-be parents are having to consider whether it’s responsible to bring children into the world if they can’t adequately provide for them.

US birthdate at a historic low. Not surprising. In order to have a child in this country you need money, a supportive partner/team, childcare, flexible work schedule etc. Parenthood in the US is reserved for the privileged and young Americans know it.

— Tanzina Vega (@tanzinavega)
May 5, 2021

It’s almost like if you saddle a generation with massive debt, then hit them with the 2nd economic crisis of their working lives, while simultaneously showing how little your society cares about children or care-giving, they will make choices accordingly https://t.co/01NoUOZSN0

— Leah Greenberg (@Leahgreenb)
May 5, 2021