> "Having a family simply requires a drastic lifestyle shift no matter what (well, if you intend on being a decent spouse and/or parent, at least), as well as c

> "Having a family simply requires a drastic lifestyle shift no matter what (well, if you intend on being a decent spouse and/or parent, at least), as well as certain sacrifices to one's career." This is true. However two things: 1. Men can delay that shift longer than women and still have families, and 2. The burdens are more flexible for men even at their worst. Men can, for example, reschedule paternity leave shifting it around by a few days in a crisis. Women cannot do the same for maternity leave. So the burdens are not the same even when you get rid of social questions of family structure and gender impacts of that.