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People explain why they aren't having kids in response to news that the US birthrate is falling

While publications dove into the whys and hows of this continued decline and experts shared their take on the subjects, many citizens—the ones not having said babies—took to Twitter to explain why they personally aren’t having children and might not want to start a family in the future.

People explain why they aren't having kids in response to news that the US birthrate is falling
Representative Cover Image Source: Getty Images/Sean De Burca

A new federal report released by the National Center for Health Statistics Wednesday revealed that the number of babies born in the U.S. dropped by 4% in 2020 compared with the previous year. "This is the sixth consecutive year that the number of births has declined after an increase in 2014, down an average of 2% per year, and the lowest number of births since 1979," the NCHS said. Despite many expecting a sort of baby boom towards the end of last year, roughly nine months after couples started spending more time together at home due to the pandemic, early evidence seemed to suggest that the COVID-19 outbreak accelerated a trend among American women of delaying pregnancy.



 

 

"The birthrate is the lowest it's ever been," Kenneth Johnson, a demographer at the University of New Hampshire, told The New York Times. "At some point, the question is going to be: The women who delayed having babies, are they ever going to have them? If they don’t, that’s a permanent notch in the American births structure." While publications dove into the whys and hows of this trend and experts shared their take on the subjects, many young citizens—the ones not having said babies—took to Twitter to explain why they personally aren’t having children and might not want to start a family in the future.



 

 

"If your 'why is the birthrate decreasing' story doesn't talk about student debt, untenable childcare and healthcare costs, housing costs, patriarchy & the enduring unequal distribution of labor in the home it is not a good 'why is the birthrate decreasing' story," tweeted writer Anne Helen Petersen. "US birthdate at a historic low. Not surprising. In order to have a child in this country, you need money, a supportive partner/team, childcare, a flexible work schedule, etc. Parenthood in the US is reserved for the privileged and young Americans know it," wrote journalist Tanzina Vega.



 

 

"I’m a solo working parent of a 16-month-old. I struggle without many of the things I outlined in the first tweet. This country does not support parents," Vega added. "This country is also on fire when it comes to sexism, racism, mass shootings, domestic terror, etc." 

Here are more refreshingly honest responses from people as to why they aren't having babies yet:

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