Media and pop culture often portray young women as baby-seeking, family-craving, biological clock-ticking time bombs. But the reality may be quite different, because new research has yet again suggested that it's childless men, not women, who are more likely to say they want to be parents some day.
Just over one-fifth (21 per cent) of childless women aged 18-34 said they don't ever want to be parents, compared to 15 per cent of men. Conversely, 57 per cent of men said they want to have children some day, versus 45 per cent of women.
"Among young adults without children, men are more inclined than women to express a desire for parenthood in the future. Yet, there is no noticeable difference between genders when it comes to aspirations to marry,"
"Men are more likely to say they want to have children because they perceive it is going to have less of a costly impact on their lives: less disruption of career, less emotional toll, less care-giving commitment,"
Although it's starting to change, girls are often taught from a very young age that becoming a mother is the most fulfilling act possible, Adshade said.
Feminist scholars such as Adrienne Rich have long theorized about "patriarchal motherhood," in which it's assumed and perpetuated that all women want to be mothers.
So it's not surprising, given all this, never mind the physical burden of pregnancy and childbirth, that men would be more likely to want children, Adshade said. "How delightful to have somebody else do all the work?"
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Thoughts?
Just over one-fifth (21 per cent) of childless women aged 18-34 said they don't ever want to be parents, compared to 15 per cent of men. Conversely, 57 per cent of men said they want to have children some day, versus 45 per cent of women.
"Among young adults without children, men are more inclined than women to express a desire for parenthood in the future. Yet, there is no noticeable difference between genders when it comes to aspirations to marry,"
"Men are more likely to say they want to have children because they perceive it is going to have less of a costly impact on their lives: less disruption of career, less emotional toll, less care-giving commitment,"
Although it's starting to change, girls are often taught from a very young age that becoming a mother is the most fulfilling act possible, Adshade said.
Feminist scholars such as Adrienne Rich have long theorized about "patriarchal motherhood," in which it's assumed and perpetuated that all women want to be mothers.
So it's not surprising, given all this, never mind the physical burden of pregnancy and childbirth, that men would be more likely to want children, Adshade said. "How delightful to have somebody else do all the work?"
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Thoughts?
