[angmarsbane]

My experience has been that women have kids when their lives feel stable and secure like when they have house, and they and their partner are out of school and a couple years into a well-paying, stable job. The longer that stability alludes a woman and/or couple the longer it takes to have children which means fewer or no children.

[wrg]

Fair argument but easily shot down by the high birth rates in poverty-stricken countries such as India, Pakistan, most states in Africa. Yes it does play a part in birthrates in developed countries and I don't doubt it is a factor in many people not starting families. But the deeper issue isn't economic otherwise it would apply evenly across the board and it simply doesn't.

[MisterMower]

That kind of begs the question, doesn’t it? Why are these women choosing more schooling and more years of employment prior to motherhood?

It’s almost like the culture is telling them that getting a degree, starting a career, and getting a nice house are goals more worthy than motherhood.

And what do the moms that “make it” and do have a kid or two do once they get there? Dump them in daycare because being a stay at home mom just isn’t socially acceptable.

Stability is an inherently subjective concept. Ask any third world mother if they’d trade places with a first world mother and the answer would be a resounding yes. Between food stamps, rent assistance, and tax subsidies, there has never been a more stable time to raise a family. But it isnt cool so they don’t do it.

This is 100% a culture problem. Women are trained from a young age that becoming an independent working woman is higher status than being a stay at home mom.

[walls]

> That kind of begs the question, doesn’t it? Why are these women choosing more schooling and more years of employment prior to motherhood?

They weren't getting to choose before.

[MisterMower]

The comment I was responding to posited that the reason women don’t choose motherhood was a lack of stability.

Are you arguing that letting women choose to become educated and join the work force has reduced their ability to start families?