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Perhaps the worthwhile question is, why did people (Americans included) have babies in the first place. As many comments say, children now are expensive, expens

Perhaps the worthwhile question is, why did people (Americans included) have babies in the first place. As many comments say, children now are expensive, expensive and expensive. Back then they were less so, fine, but still expensive and not somehow magically more fun. So that can't be the whole story. Was it the lack of contraception? Surely not just that, in 1970s or whatnot a typical family had maybe 1-4 children, but not like 10. I suspect it was a combination of status, expectation and ease. Having children was simply a milestone on the roadmap of life that was hard to skip. Grandparents were younger then, and thus more able to help, and more likely to live nearby in the first place. As the societal expectation to have children waned, people stopped.

incomingpain 2y ago
OO I like the point of view. >Perhaps the worthwhile question is, why did people (Americans included) have babies in the first place. Rural/farmer pov it's slave labour. Go feed the chickens! Urban/city pov it's slave labour. Go put out the trash! >and not somehow magically more fun. Extreme high quality toys. You would have to be a king to have this much choice and quality. You get to play with the toys of your childhood. So much more fun to be a parent today. >Was it the lack of contraception? Surely not just that, in 1970s or whatnot a typical family had maybe 1-4 children, but not like 10. People point to the 1950s as when it seemed to be easier. When yes, you had 10. Planned parenthood developed the pill in the 1950s but only widespread use in the 1960s. Contraceptives impacted the 1970s numbers. 1972: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eisenstadt_v._Baird https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eisenstadt_v._Baird Abortions are about that time as well. This isn't even the whole story. https://www.uspharmacist.com/article/most-estrogen-in-drinking-water-not-from-the-pill https://www.uspharmacist.com/article/most-estrogen-in-drinki... You might expect pills accidentally being flushed down the toilet for example to start showing up in water supply, but it's not statistically significant because our drinking water has so much estrogen in it already.

incomingpain 2y ago

OO I like the point of view. >Perhaps the worthwhile question is, why did people (Americans included) have babies in the first place. Rural/farmer pov it's slave labour. Go feed the chickens! Urban/city pov it's slave labour. Go put out the trash! >and not somehow magically more fun. Extreme high quality toys. You would have to be a king to have this much choice and quality. You get to play with the toys of your childhood. So much more fun to be a parent today. >Was it the lack of contraception? Surely not just that, in 1970s or whatnot a typical family had maybe 1-4 children, but not like 10. People point to the 1950s as when it seemed to be easier. When yes, you had 10. Planned parenthood developed the pill in the 1950s but only widespread use in the 1960s. Contraceptives impacted the 1970s numbers. 1972: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eisenstadt_v._Baird https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eisenstadt_v._Baird Abortions are about that time as well. This isn't even the whole story. https://www.uspharmacist.com/article/most-estrogen-in-drinking-water-not-from-the-pill https://www.uspharmacist.com/article/most-estrogen-in-drinki... You might expect pills accidentally being flushed down the toilet for example to start showing up in water supply, but it's not statistically significant because our drinking water has so much estrogen in it already.