generations would rather wait longer to have children in order to pursue individual, personal goals rather than feeling limited by raising a family. Jacobson and Heaton found that attending religious services, a large number of hours at work desired, and higher levels of education are also directly related to voluntary childlessness. Furthermore, their studies presented that individuals who come from families who value a traditional family dynamic and emphasize a sense of connectedness with extended family members experience lower rates of childlessness (1991). These differences in personal values serve as a major societal influence on whether or not couples decide to become parents.
Another determinant for why some choose not to have children is based on the simple fact that the likelihood of a successful marriage is 50-50 (Chamie & Mirkin, 2012). Although the norm is to marry one’s significant other and have children, the odds don’t seem favorable when half of marriages end in …show more content…
Essentially since the birth of the human population, involuntary childlessness has occurred; however, only in the last century and a half has voluntary childlessness become a trend (DeOllos & Kapinus, 2002). Historically, we have gone from a point in which women were punished for not having children to instances in which voluntary childlessness became the norm and was supported by the government. During the colonial period, women were accused of witchcraft if they could not produce offspring (Griffin, 1996). Konefall suggests that during the 1900s to mid-World War, people remained childless for two reasons. First, many women lost their husbands in the war and were reluctant to remarry, thus never seizing the opportunity to reproduce. Secondly, men who were fortunate enough to return home to their wives after the war wanted to wait for the economic hardships to end before starting a family
Another determinant for why some choose not to have children is based on the simple fact that the likelihood of a successful marriage is 50-50 (Chamie & Mirkin, 2012). Although the norm is to marry one’s significant other and have children, the odds don’t seem favorable when half of marriages end in …show more content…
Essentially since the birth of the human population, involuntary childlessness has occurred; however, only in the last century and a half has voluntary childlessness become a trend (DeOllos & Kapinus, 2002). Historically, we have gone from a point in which women were punished for not having children to instances in which voluntary childlessness became the norm and was supported by the government. During the colonial period, women were accused of witchcraft if they could not produce offspring (Griffin, 1996). Konefall suggests that during the 1900s to mid-World War, people remained childless for two reasons. First, many women lost their husbands in the war and were reluctant to remarry, thus never seizing the opportunity to reproduce. Secondly, men who were fortunate enough to return home to their wives after the war wanted to wait for the economic hardships to end before starting a family