From infancy, girls are socialized into believing that one day they are going to grow up have children. We were given baby dolls and miniature strollers when the boys had their trucks and action figures. We are supposed to want motherhood one day, and if we don't then there is something "wrong" with us. There are a lot of things I want in life, things I can see myself doing and having. On this extensive list, kids are not included. For some, it may seem hard to imagine, that I don't have any remote desire for a tiny "bundle of joy" in my life at any point. But to me, and many others, it's much more of a burden than a joy.
There are about a million and one reasons why I don't want kids, including:
They're Expensive
Not only are there ridiculous hospital bills, but tha actual cost of supporting a child is immense. I already have student loans to deal with, not to mention I like to do things like travel the world, so I just don't have the money.
They Have To Be Watched At ALL Times
We've all heard horror stories of a parent who left the room for roughly 4 seconds and something terrible has happened. I'm not willing to give up my social life/personal time for this.
The Thought Of Growing Another Human Inside of Me Just Really Grosses Me Out
When I see a pregnant woman, I cannot picture myself like that. It just freaks me out too much the thought of growing a tiny person for nine months
The Physical & Emotional Toll of Giving Birth
Sorry, but I like my body the way it is. And I know, you're body can "bounce back" if you work hard enough, but that usually just for celeb moms who have personal trainers and staff to watch the kid.
You Can't Go Anywhere With Them
it's not like a cat that you can have someone casually watch for a week
The Societal Expectations of Being a Mother
You can't win, if you decide to be a stay at home mom, people shame you for not having a job, but if you're a working mom, you are shamed for not spending enough time with your child. It's lose-lose.
The World Is Currently Extremely Overpopulated, and No One Seems to Care
The scientific "ideal" number for the global population is around 4 billion, and we're about to reach 8 billion. This puts an immense tole on resources of all kinds, especially when countries like America have too much and others not enough
HAVE I MENTIONED THE PAIN?
Seriously, have you ever watched a movie that showed someone being born or heard a woman telling her birth story and been like "yeah, that sounds like a fun experience!" No, probably not, because it is supposedly one of the most painful physical experiences a human being can go through.
I Just Don't Like Kids
They're gross, they're annoying, you can't escape them. To me, the occasional "cute" moment does not make it all worth it.
And here's the thing, I'm not the only one who thinks this way. The millennial generation is rejecting parenthood more than any generation before. We are also the most educated generation (and the most in debt), and there is a strong correlation between intelligence and having fewer children. The more educated/intelligent a woman is, the less likely she is to want children. Why? All the reasons listed above, as well as the fact that she's probably more focused on her career/education/life than she is on reproducing. Our generation values travel, something that is extremely difficult if you have small humans you need to either bring with you (which changes the trip entirely) or find someone willing to watch them for a few weeks (good luck with that.) Those of us who are anti-children are not judging people who want or have kids, we just want different things. Many say to us "well isn't that selfish?" No, and that's about the worst thing you can say to one of us. It would be "selfish" for us to have a child when we don't want one, since some of us probably wouldn't make good parents anyway. It would be "selfish" to add to the worlds strain that the current population has already caused. So no, it's not selfish. It's better for everyone. I don't judge you for wanting kids, so please don't judge me for not wanting them.
Oh, and #catsnotkids
For more, check out this article on why womanhood does not equal motherhood.
