Posted on 05/22/2007 10:36:38 AM PDT by qam1
It is not the desire to further careers but money worries and the search for Mr Right which are holding women back from having children, according to a poll out today.
Many are also having too much fun, although a significant number admit to stressing about their fertility, it found.
The study of 1,800 child-free women, for Grazia magazine, reveals that having children is lowest on the list of life priorities for 45 per cent of 28- to 32-year-olds.
More than half (51 per cent) of those aged 24 to 27 and a third of 28- to 32-year-olds say they cannot afford to get on the "family ladder" because they are not financially stable or do not own their own home.
More than a quarter (28 per cent) of those aged 24 to 32 and a quarter of those aged 33 to 40 say they are having too much fun to think about children.
A further 13 per cent of thirtysomethings say they feel too much like a child themselves to have one yet.
The top reason women in the 33 to 40 age group give for not having children is because a third have not met Mr Right (20 per cent of those aged 28 to 30 and 26 per cent of those aged 41 to 49).
Asked why they haven't had children, just 16 per cent of the women say it is because of their career.
When ranking their life priorities, only 6 per cent put career first while 52 per cent say relationships are most important and 35 per cent say friends and family.
More than eight in 10 (84 per cent) say they will not have children in the wrong relationship just to become a mother.
Three quarters (76 per cent) will never use a sperm donor and 79 per cent will not have a baby with a friend, the poll found.
But most younger women will leave a partner who does not ever want children (56 per cent of 24 to 27-year-olds and 57 per cent of 28 to 32-year-olds).
Nine out of 10 (90 per cent) of the over-40s say they will stick with their man even if children are not on the agenda.
While 35 per cent of the 41 to 49-year-olds questioned were married, 28 per cent still feel too immature to have children.
On fertility, 62 per cent of those aged 24 to 27 admit they stress about it.
One in 10 (11 per cent) of 41 to 49-year-olds have already been told they are infertile but 74 per cent in the age group say they will not be bothered if told they can never have children.
Grazia editor Jane Bruton says: "Everyone assumes that women who don't have children are selfish and career obsessed, but our exclusive survey shows nothing could be further from the truth.
"Getting on the family ladder is simply becoming too expensive. If you don't own your own home or feel financially stable because of excessive debt then you aren't going to feel equipped to have a child.
"On top of this, women are waiting longer to meet the right man to father their children and are simply not prepared to compromise."
Ping list for the discussion of the politics and social (and sometimes nostalgic) aspects that directly effects Generation Reagan / Generation-X (Those born from 1965-1981) including all the spending previous generations are doing that Gen-X and Y will end up paying for.
Freep mail me to be added or dropped. See my home page for details and previous articles.
It’s awfully hard to find “Mr. Right” when you’re tramping it up in bars, drinking like a fish and banging “Mr. Right NOW.” Being a parent means effacing yourself to a degree, and giving up disposable income, instant gratification and a fairly selfish existence. A LOT of the younger generation aren’t up tp the challenge.
Women....compromise? My wife's version of a compromise: "What's yours is mine and what's mine is mine."
And don’t ever forget that!! Ha Ha Ha
Girls just want to have fun.
I'll agree to that. Living in Southern California makes having children prohibitively expensive. Since my wife and I are responsible and would not want to burden the tax payers with having to subsidize our children, we have decided to wait until I finish college and get a higher paying job.
I cant say the same for all the other welfare louts out there.
Ugliness # 1?
FREERIDER PING!
More testimony from the “ME!” generation.
She doesn’t let me forget....but all in all, it’s been a good trade. :-)
Good for you for being responsible!
“..and giving up disposable income, instant gratification and a fairly selfish existence.”
Must suck to be a woman...
No one is winning in this scenario except the folks who want to bring society crashing down so that they can rebuild it along new lines.
Dr. Phil
Tyra
The Food Network
The Style Network
American Idol.....
I get it during football season to watch the VOLS. Luckily she's a VOL Alumni, so that works out..
I....am......so.....whipped.
and are simply not prepared to compromise.”
Next time try cooking it in the kitchen. ;^)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.