The problem with this idea is that men's badness has trended down, but women have still become more career focused. I think the strong focus on "what if a man becomes abusive" is a significant part of the problem in that it stokes anxiety, regardless of the actual risk.
Not only that, but marriage has largely fallen among women with the lowest incomes, and fertility is lower with higher SES.
I think this is a clever idea, but doesn't seem to explain everything we're seeing.
Pretty much totally agree on all this. One other factor I'd like to add: peer effects. Mothers without other mothers to hang out with is incredibly lonely.
Also re-affirms the problem of education taking too long. The times have changed and we really need to stratify and speed-run educational -- smarties should be going on the fast lane and jobs that simply don't need degrees shouldn't have them.
And on the other end, more kids finishing year 12 has been a mistake.
“Men fail constantly.” Unfortunately the human condition. “Men are degenerates.” Can be, but I know many who are not. I am a senior, been married 55 years now. Four kids, married, ten grandchildren, one great grandson. We have many friends with a similar history. Perhaps fewer or more kids and grandchildren. Our wives raised our children and when the last one started attending jr.high, went to work outside the home. Some like my wife went on to university and careers afterwards. We both had what we wanted and needed. I should add that all these families, including ours, had a common faith and church experience. Our children and their spouses are following the same trend. By example I hold out hope for the younger generation.
"Yet many women have chosen that path and whilst polls consistently show they’d like to have more kids than they do, they must have their reasons."
Keep in mind that the financial and time cost of rearing a human kitten to a more or less middle class standard has gone up astronomically in recent decades.
Wasn't long ago, you fed your offspring, put a roof over its head, and didn't beat it so bad it never got to be a big kid, and you were doing a pretty good job. Parent Of The Year, almost.
What a career insures against is not just universal male badness, but the risk of divorce, which social norms and social institutions now make much easier than before.
The problem with this idea is that men's badness has trended down, but women have still become more career focused. I think the strong focus on "what if a man becomes abusive" is a significant part of the problem in that it stokes anxiety, regardless of the actual risk.
Not only that, but marriage has largely fallen among women with the lowest incomes, and fertility is lower with higher SES.
I think this is a clever idea, but doesn't seem to explain everything we're seeing.
Agree, it's not everything... just a thing
Pretty much totally agree on all this. One other factor I'd like to add: peer effects. Mothers without other mothers to hang out with is incredibly lonely.
Also re-affirms the problem of education taking too long. The times have changed and we really need to stratify and speed-run educational -- smarties should be going on the fast lane and jobs that simply don't need degrees shouldn't have them.
And on the other end, more kids finishing year 12 has been a mistake.
“Men fail constantly.” Unfortunately the human condition. “Men are degenerates.” Can be, but I know many who are not. I am a senior, been married 55 years now. Four kids, married, ten grandchildren, one great grandson. We have many friends with a similar history. Perhaps fewer or more kids and grandchildren. Our wives raised our children and when the last one started attending jr.high, went to work outside the home. Some like my wife went on to university and careers afterwards. We both had what we wanted and needed. I should add that all these families, including ours, had a common faith and church experience. Our children and their spouses are following the same trend. By example I hold out hope for the younger generation.
God bless sir!
Thank you! And keep on writing. Good stuff.
"Yet many women have chosen that path and whilst polls consistently show they’d like to have more kids than they do, they must have their reasons."
Keep in mind that the financial and time cost of rearing a human kitten to a more or less middle class standard has gone up astronomically in recent decades.
Wasn't long ago, you fed your offspring, put a roof over its head, and didn't beat it so bad it never got to be a big kid, and you were doing a pretty good job. Parent Of The Year, almost.
Woman's class is mostly genetic and same as brother's. They can step in with bad husband.
What a career insures against is not just universal male badness, but the risk of divorce, which social norms and social institutions now make much easier than before.