Are there other possible explanations, besides a universal biological compulsion to reproduce (which would lead to a conclusion that 13% / 19% of the population are either infertile or never found the appropriate partner), that could explain such high rates of reproduction?
I'd suggest as possibilities: - Societal pressure to have children, even if you yourself feel no compulsion - Desire to please a partner, even if you yourself feel no compulsion - Accidental pregnancy and religious beliefs/lack of access to abortion/the man not getting a say
Surely these possibilities could explain at least some of the disparity between percentages of teenagers who said they don't want children and adults who did have children. As well as changed minds. I'm not denying that some minds change. I just don't feel like it's "the vast majority".
According to your study, none of the people who reported that they didn't want a child at Wave I had had one by Wave 2, and while 62% of the people who said they didn't want a child at Wave I had either changed their mind or were uncertain, 38% had not. That is enough proof for me that "the vast majority" is a massive overstatement of incidence of mind-changing. In addition, more people changed their mind from wanting kids to not wanting or unsure than the other way round.
Bill, if you'd like to see the full study, I'll forward it to you.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2015-06-18 03:20 pm (UTC)I'd suggest as possibilities:
- Societal pressure to have children, even if you yourself feel no compulsion
- Desire to please a partner, even if you yourself feel no compulsion
- Accidental pregnancy and religious beliefs/lack of access to abortion/the man not getting a say
Surely these possibilities could explain at least some of the disparity between percentages of teenagers who said they don't want children and adults who did have children. As well as changed minds. I'm not denying that some minds change. I just don't feel like it's "the vast majority".
According to your study, none of the people who reported that they didn't want a child at Wave I had had one by Wave 2, and while 62% of the people who said they didn't want a child at Wave I had either changed their mind or were uncertain, 38% had not. That is enough proof for me that "the vast majority" is a massive overstatement of incidence of mind-changing. In addition, more people changed their mind from wanting kids to not wanting or unsure than the other way round.
Bill, if you'd like to see the full study, I'll forward it to you.