April Joy Bascos

M224 Reaction Paper on

Living Childless: Having It All Without Having Children (Sandler, 2013)

The article discusses the rather interesting view on the increasing prevalence of
childlessness in a highly developed country, providing different accounts of individuals either
delaying their childbearing stage or involve in a childless marriage. However, the truth and
data behind the declining birthrate is much more complex. It is not only about couples who
could not bear offspring or women who do not want to have children. In fact, a variety of
underlying issues are essential to thoroughly understand childlessness as a socioeconomic
phenomenon.
From 2007-2011, the fertility rate in US declined to 9%, which is lowest recorded,
even including the fertility crash during the Great Depression. In addition, statistics further
showed that prior the 2008 recession, women aged 40-44 who had never given birth had
largely grown by 80% from 10% to 18% since 1976. These are observed even with all the
technological advancements for giving birth and fertility treatments, not to mention, adoption.
While these data may not weigh the same with other developing countries, it is clear that the
rise in childlessness is dramatic and quite sudden in history. As for the reason why, the
article focuses its discussion on the gender where childbearing is closely associated with-
women. In almost any culture globally, womanhood is often equated to motherhood. Hence,
societal pressures and stigma against childfree couples, most especially on the woman, can
be attributed to the motherhood mandate. But are they really to blame on retreat from child
rearing and its potential impact on the ageing population?
Childlessness defaults to women, culturally and academically. More so, there is the
burden of justification among females when constantly asked as to why they still do not have
children during their childbearing years, which spans from age 15 to 44. Disregarding this,
however, it is empirical to understand how major changes in our environment is affecting
fertility and childlessness. Increase in education of women, women empowerment, more
participation in the labor market, decreasing marriage rate, and ballooning cost of childcare,
to name a few. When these factors are considered, it can be explained why childlessness is
at large and that it actually matters in itself.
Data shows that intelligence predicted childlessness, as higher IQ relates to pursuing
higher education, which eventually leads to higher opportunity costs. Meanwhile,
motherhood and childrearing is indeed “costly” to women’s careers. An American woman
who gets off the career track could average a lost salary of as high as 1 Million USD, lost
promotions, etc., which is grave especially in a down economy. Moreover, when wages
become higher, the cost of childcare also increases. This reduces the appeal of having large
families and even becoming a parent. While aside from the sheer economic cost of raising a
child, the immersive demands of parenting also realize the desire to opt out of it. Married
couples and career women instead pursue childfree lifestyle that they enjoy with. Hence, it is
evident that the opportunity cost of time is highly present with childlessness, especially for
women. Also, economic, professional, social realities are most cited reasons for postponed
childbearing.
However, it is worth noting that childlessness poses a major threat to the
macroeconomy. An argument from the article asserts that the “selfishness of childless
[American] is responsible for possible destruction of future economy” due to reduction in the
number of consumers and taxpayers alike. Most likely and for the next few decades, rising
childlessness will lead to increased ratio of older to working-age adults. When this happens,
more budget allocations will be intended to pay for higher social security support and health
care for the elderly; else, the funding for these purposes will be reduced.
Economic reasoning includes consideration of the positive and negative effects to
discourse how childlessness might affect economic status. Not having children can mean
relatively lower living expenses and not paying for education of the dependents. Ergo, they
can earn more and accrue higher savings and assets, which they can enjoy while working
and until their retirement. On the opposite, childless adults with fewer financial responsibility,
may work less or even settle for low paying jobs that would satisfy their passion. Thereby,
having less income and reduced savings. Altogether, both will accumulate higher demand
for pension benefits and healthcare when they retire. It is already given that many evidences
are important to understand why people end up childless, but for sure, childlessness is one
contributor to the long-term financial pressures on social security, public health care
programs, and the health care system.