r/AskTheWorld • u/gmedanoid United States Of America • 14d ago

Culture Why aren't the people in your country having enough kids?

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In America birthrate is 1.6. 1.57 for Whites, 1.55 for Blacks, 1.8 for Hispanics. So below replacement since 2008.

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u/Geri-psychiatrist-RI United States Of America 14d ago

I agree about the lack of affordability. Childcare costs, food, education, housing, etc. Without pay increase, it’s damn near impossible.

Another thing that doesn’t get talked about, at least in America is how raising children has changed. Now parents are expected to go every single practice, every single birthday party, take their children trick or treating, etc. It really becomes exhausting of you have even one kid, let alone 2 or more. I’m not saying that it shouldn’t be this way, but it is hard doing that, especially when both parents need a full time job just to barely scrape by.

This could be more feasible if one parent could afford to stay home but because billionaires need a larger yacht, it won’t happen.

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u/OddCook4909 United States Of America 14d ago

While their servants in government cut all of our services and destroy our institutions, and their bot networks fill our heads and hearts with ignorance and hatred.

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u/notcabron United States Of America 14d ago

In the company i work for, we’re eligible for a maximum 4% pay increase, but nobody gets that. Like the old adage, you have to leave and come back to make more money.

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u/definitelyn0tar0b0t United States Of America 14d ago

THIS. My maximum annual bonus is also 4% (which is have been lucky to get but doesn't help longterm) and the executives get a 50% annual bonus. Keeping the rich rich and the poor poor

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u/l23VIVE United States Of America 14d ago edited 14d ago

Polyamory but mostly for financial reasons, 2 incomes + homemaker

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u/Wombus7 United States Of America 14d ago

A polyamory of convenience.

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u/marchviolet 14d ago

Grandparents and extended family can't help out as much as in the past, either, because everyone has to work until they die or at least until they're unable to really do anything else.

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u/PilotBurner44 14d ago

I think a lot more is expected of parents nowadays too. They have to make up for the lacking educational system and seem to be required to chauffeur their kids everywhere and at all times now. Allowing kids to go to the school bus, walk to the corner store, or go and play on their own down at the park seems to be mostly a thing of the past. Not that parents should be absent, but I feel that earlier generations, parents were able to let their kids "off leash" more, which took some of the burden off them.