Comment by 4gotunameagain
1 year ago
The difference is that in one case it could be recognised and avoided, if beneficial for both the individual & society.
1 year ago
The difference is that in one case it could be recognised and avoided, if beneficial for both the individual & society.
Explain why total fertility rate goes down in direct correlation with women gaining freedom.
Seems clear that once “it” could be avoided, the individuals started making choices beneficial for themselves.
I would argue that this is a pretty destructive choice though. Like kids/parenting or not (and even for blessed families without problems it’s always hard work), they’re inherently part of being a biological creature. Of course, individuals can opt out, but if everyone opts out, we are all dead.
It’s sad that some people think that’s a good outcome, just because they’re squeamish about diaper changing or dealing with snotty nosed, annoying children. Those people tend to forget that they were once diaper-wearing, snotty nosed, annoying children.
Clearly, the ability to have all the pleasure and none of the responsibility is a very powerful thing. It seems kind of cruel that we have given that to ourselves as a species, if in fact it hacks our brain so much that we decide to kill off our species because Netflix or TikTok is so much more satisfying and easy than having to actually raise a child.
I notice you didn’t mention any of the health or physical risks women face in partnering up with a man, pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, infant rearing (lack of sleep), loss of income and potential income due to career stagnation (meaning loss of financial security).
Given what we know of how pervasive harassment and violence against women was and is, could you envision a scenario where total fertility rate never reaches replacement rate?
What if it simply doesn’t make sense for women to partner up with the bottom 10% of men? Or even 20% of men? Then you have the women who end up only having 1 child, for whatever reason.
The higher the percentage of women that have 0 or 1 child, the higher the percentage of women that need to have 3 or more children to offset them. But the data shows, even amongst the richest women in the world with servants, that most prefer to experience 2 childbirths. A few will go for 3, in case they didn’t get a boy or girl, but the amount that want more than 3 is basically negligible.
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I don't let what "being part of a biological creature" entails dictate my behavior usually, and I don't think you do either. Else you'd be running around butt naked in the savanna, and not typing appeal to nature fallacies on your computer.
Also, please refrain from strawmanning people who don't want kids into "Netflix or TikTok" zombies. This is stupid and achieves nothing.
> Of course, individuals can opt out, but if everyone opts out, we are all dead.
That won't happen, population may decline, yes, but the extinction of humanity is nowhere on the horizon.