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by kmclean 1931 days ago
Interestingly, single, childless women are also the happiest population demographic.

(https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/may/25/women-h...)

I don't disagree homemaking should be less stigmatized, but the real problem is American startup culture that expects this kind of around-the-clock all-in hustle mentality. The vast majority of businesses are actually just small firms with a few people that make a decent living. That's the lifestyle that should be celebrated and desirable. There's no reason running a business can't be compatible with having a family, we just need to re-define what it looks like to run a company. The focus should be on sustainability and balance, not growth at any cost.

2 comments

I wonder what the data looks like if you regress happiness onto age for single women.

I have no difficulty believing single, childless women are very happy in their 20s and 30s. I wonder though if that rapidly changes past 40.

I would hypothesize the same effect happens for men as well.

Yea, dont get me wrong I think that being a childless woman in your 40s is particularly rough but I don't think it is easy for men either. Loneliness really starts to set in by that age.
Childless != lonely, or not having plenty of social contacts. Having kids tend to force one to deal with a certain number of issues which requires socializing of some form, so it may help for those that aren't naturally outgoing and sociable people but beyond that not so much IMO.
Not remotely believable.
What makes you feel that way? Do you think the narrative might be more complicated than what the parent suggests?