Article in the Washington Post today about a 35 year high in American fertility. Apparently, we’ve once again reached 2.1 children per woman, aka “the replacement rate.”
Here’s what I found interesting:
While being a mother who works outside the home is far from easy for many American women, many experts said the United States is in many ways more amenable to the practice than many other developed countries. The high-octane consumer economy, for example, helps women run households more efficiently in a number of ways, including making prepared foods more widely available, and weekend and late-night shopping possible. American men are also helping more with their children than in the past, experts say.
“We also have a relatively high percentage of part-time jobs available,” said Ronald Rindfuss, a sociology professor at the University of North Carolina. “There’s also more shift work outside the normal nine-to-five, Monday-through-Friday schedule that enables parents to share child care.”
Alright, I don’t have children so I probably shouldn’t chime in, but does this bug anyone else? Are pre-prepared foods, late-night shopping, and off-hours shift work really positive developments for families? Or for the women who—of course—run households?
morrison_jay
As a working father with two children and with a wife who also works, I guess I can chime in here with my opinion.We used to do the typical meals, but my son developed food issues and we changed to all organic healthy home cooked meals. It is tough to accomplish with the American way of life. We definitely have to try harder to make sure we eat healthy and spend enough time with the kids. My wife grew up in Europe where the work day often ended at 3 pm. It was much more possible to live a more healthy and family friendly lifestyle. I do not consider the current requirements of work in the USA to be positive developments. Not if you want your kids to get the parental attention they need.
dave
The “American way of life” seems to mean 4,000-plus square foot house and 3-car garage occupied by Lexus or BMW, etc., etc. We THINK we have to have that. And therefore we BELIEVE husband and wife must work 10-hour days to support this luxurious, consumptive lifestyle. And it’s becoming clear our children are suffering as a result. Happiness among children and adults doesn’t improve as we keep up with the Joneses. In fact, the opposite appears to be true.So I would agree whole-heartedly with Eric, and add that the news about our population and fertility rate is disturbing. I see much evidence today that the UN global population projections may be low. Developed nations obsessed with economic growth are beginning to implement baby bonuses for fear that fewer workers/consumers will reduce GDP. (similar problem to families keeping up with the Joneses)Dave GardnerProducer/DirectorHooked on Growth: Our Misguided Quest for Prosperitywww.growthbusters.com
morrison_jay
Dave, forget about the luxury lifestyle with the large house and BMW. Many families need two incomes just to live a basic middle class life. Unfortunately, the cheapest, quickest and most available foods are often the highest in calories and most unhealthy. With our busy and workworked families, the default choices we make are often the worst.
jsalvati
Do you seriously suggest that the option to use pre-prepared meals, do late night shopping, or have flexible working hours is bad for families? You might reasonably complain that modern life is more expensive and requires the use of those things, but actually having those options is unambiguously good.