Women are not having more children because of competition from “new fun technology” academic on R4 Today programme

[Tootingbec]

Not because of the cost of childcare, or the impact on our careers, pensions, financial independence, or because of women not accepting sub- standard relationships anymore etc etc - I could go on!

No, according to Dr Alice Evans (interviewed at about 6.50am) it is because improved technology and leisure gives women more options around “fun things” they can do instead of have children. And we need to make parenting more exciting and enjoyable and easier to compete with (I quote) “this new fun technology and other fun stuff”

🤨

Without any irony she then goes on to say in a “this is really fascinating!” tone that another reason is lower marriage rates and that “marriage rates are falling in countries like Iran, Turkey and Egypt!” Ya think Dr Evans?! Women in countries with horrific violence against women and girls and where women’s rights are going backwards, are weirdly not wanting to get married and have children?!?

Honestly it was the most facile examination of falling birth rates and why women might be opting out of marriage, relationships and child bearing I have heard

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/live/bbc_radio_fourfm?partner=uk.co.bbc&origin=share-mobile

I'm a single mum and I adore my DD greatly and don't regret her for a second, but my god the life I could have if I had chosen to not have kids - my finances would be wonderful, my home would be immaculate... the holidays, the freedom! I'd be a year further along in my career and would have the energy to spare to pursue a promotion so I'd probably have got it by now. I'd have time to run and go to the gym and socialise. Sounds idyllic 😂

I think women are much better off not having kids to be honest!

Sorry @Orangemintcream not quite sure why I 'replied' to your post to say that!

But getting older. We aren't stable in terms of age dustribution.

In the 1950s people used to retire at 65 and live, on average to be 70. Now its over 80. But were aren't necessary fit for work as we get older. Rather than a relatively large working population funding people for 5 years, a smaller working population is funding people for 15 years.

If global population is too high, immigration doesnt solve it, it just forces people to move around the world. And other countries may then suffer as a result of their working age population emigrating. The countries that are more attractive get the best people, and other countries suffer. Thats ok for us, if we believe that we can attract the best, rubbish for poorer countries.