An article titled "Why Are More and More People Passing Up Parenthood?" was found in the May 10, 2026 edition of The New York Times. This article pertains to the decrease in children presented primarily with economic and sociological factors. My response is as follows.
In this article it was pointed out that 1. Birth increases when economics are on the upswing and with high levels of equality in the home and in society. 2. Worry about sending a future child to school with unvaccinated classmates 3. Affordability 4. Future uncertainty -life expectancy, AI ,immigration, global trade and climate change 5. American women with less education have more children. 6. Current and future employment. concerns 7. Marked decline in marriage 8. Increased social isolation 9. Median age of first-time homebuyers-40 10. In South Korea-a construction company offered its employees roughly twice South Korea's annual per capita income,to women who had a baby. Last year the company reported 36 births and an increase of about 60% compared to the average before the program began
According to the article, there is a focus on economic uncertainty in the present and future affecting today's couples. Uncertainty suggests anxiety and insecurity and is likely masking underlying issues regarding parenting . 1. Have they considered or have they had individual , marital therapy or a medical consultation ? The issues were?
2. What ego needs are being met and which are not?
3. Are there health issues?
4. What would be the advantages and/or disadvantages of having a child? How important is having an offspring?
5. How did they spend their time away from work?
6. What did they like about being a child?
7. What type of additional support do they expect after the birth of the child?
8.Use of TRT. Testosterone Replacement Therapy is associated with low sperm count.
These questions are starting points in evaluating the issue of parenting for these couples .
Low birth factors in our culture, aside from 24% of males experiencing ED, pertaining to declining birth rate include a masculine dominance created by men associated with morality, religion, capitalism and science suggesting female inferiority. It took how long for women to be able to vote in this country ? The male masculinity stereotype is that man is the king of the castle, earns more, is more aggressive, withholds emotions and females are passive, inhibit aggression, inhibit display of sexual urges, less competent, less independent, less objective and less logical.
Another factor of low birth rate from a psychodynamic point of view, suggests female penis envy in which the clitoris is conceived of as a phallus. Within Oedipal complex dynamics , a female with penis envy gives rise to the desire for a child which then forms the basis for a love bond with father and subsequently a femininity orientation .With this attachment to the father results in the existence of a desire for penis and a desire for a child. However, with the occurrence of a negative attachment to the father, a femininity orientation is rejected. This psychological dynamic becomes associated with an unconscious wish , a desire to be a "man" in orientation with its advantages .
From this penis envy role of inferiority, the female has to master this desire to be a man throughout life and deal with men.Simply put, is motherhood going to be a handicap and significantly interfere with professional goals and achievement ?
Further, some "masculine" oriented women have an attitude of hostility towards men. Sometimes it takes the form of depreciation and/or castrating them in the process. Essentially, these women have dismissed father as a sexual object and simultaneously recoil from the feminine role altogether.
Other factors interfering with having children are the fear of pain,and/or injury with penis penetration ; frigidity, along with the dread of childbirth. And , the anxiety related to this fictitious male role allows the woman to escape from the feminine role, even though burdened by guilt and anxiety.
On the other hand traditionally feminine oriented limited education females have adapted themselves to the wishes of men as exemplified by the religious right which promotes a stay at home mom with many children .along with help from the Supreme Court ‘s Roe vs Wade decision .
Erikson's seventh psychosocial stage is characterized as Generativity vs Stagnation presents another factor to consider . Erikson presents the following: 1. Mutuality of orgasm. 2. With a loved partner 3. Of the other sex. 4. With whom one is able and willing to share mutual trust. 5. And with whom one is able and willing to regulate the cycles of a. Work b. Procreation c. Recreation 6 So as to secure to the offspring, too, all the stages of a satisfactory development.
Psychologically , the crisis is about establishing and guiding the next generation to their own or to another's offspring coupled with the attitude of the belief in the species along with making the child a welcoming trust of the community- progeny?
Progeny , is not effectively valued in our society There's an absence of effective gun legislation; gutting of the Department of Education; inadequate funding for the schools; inadequate teacher salaries; insufficient staff , nurses, school psychologists, master teachers; lack of school safety; book banning, and the rewriting of US history
Parents, for their own narcissistic needs, are too involved in their children's sports, arts and school social activities with their overprotection, smothering and controlling patterns not allowing for autonomy, separation and independence. They've spoiled their children with harmful technology and monetary bribes.
On the other hand, there's child abuse, neglect, and dead beat dads with their child support. Further, there are numerous reasons for parents not to have children. For example, an article titled "The Anxiety of Influencers" found in the May 24 2026 edition of The New York Times described how parents are monetizing their children by posting content of their kids wearing various brands, skimpy clothing, exposing intimate details about their children on Instagram, YouTube, Tik Tok and even selling photos of the young children to men. Apparently this is a multibillion-dollar influencer industry and about parental exploitation.
Should All females become mothers? Not if that mother is unable to provide unconditional affirmation for her child's life and its needs. This means and relates to her ability to care and be responsible for her child's life and growth. For instance, can the mother instill a positive attitude for the love of life and it's good to be alive in the child ? Turning to the Bible, the Promised Land symbolizes the mother, with Milk and Honey . Milk symbolizes the first aspect of love and Honey symbolizes the sweetness of life.
In order for the mother to give "honey," that female must be good and happy. She has to be able to transmit an attitude of being unselfish and altruistic. It's emotionally easier for the mother to love her small infant, but the crisis is being able to love her growing child. The child must be able to grow and emotionally separate in order to become a complete human being. Can the mother still love her child as a separate human being?
The government plays their part also with inadequacy in school lunch programs; health insurance; daycare and other after school programs; maternity time off : attacking vaccinations and not assisting with limiting cost of college and the inordinate amount of school debt. And,there are few employment opportunities for recent college graduates .
In conclusion, there are a number of psychological, sociological, economic, political components affecting whether or not couples should have offspring in our capitalistic society. Once our K-12 model of education was superior. Not so today. Yes, the anxiety of uncertainty without control is not new. But our capitalistic society, with discrimination has unfairly affected the majority as far as income inequality ,health insurance , education and other safety net programs are concerned. Our health industry is too expensive, and our current political power structure is dreadful and shameful. It's not surprising that there's isolation ,less sex ,relationship issues and a decreasing health and birth rate in our country with its negative attitude,values and policies regarding children. And, importantly, not all couples are psychologically or morally equipped to become parents. Bring back Roe vs. Wade and remove Alioto from the Supreme Court for starters .
Reference
Erikson, Erik H. Childhood and Society.
Horney, Karen Feminine Psychology
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