CCC 27-2_LR

NEWS & NOTES

CHILDLESSNESS BY CHOICE According to a survey by The Independent Center, 30% of Generation Z and Millennials do not have, nor want to have, children, while 62% had or wanted to have children, and 9% said they were unsure. This signifies a generational departure from historical and social norms. Not having or wanting to have children is not something young adults learn from their parents. So, how did they come to this position? The survey discovered that 23% of Gen Z and Millennials “believed having children was irresponsible because of climate change” vs. “60% who disagreed and 17% who weren’t sure,” quoting sociology professor, Amy Blackstone, the author of Childfree by Choice: The Movement Redefining Family and Creating a New Age of Independence . According to Blackstone,

people also choose childlessness as an expression of individualism: “Many childfree people are beginning to view their status as nonparents as a part of their iden tity that shapes their experience in society.” According to some scholars, expressive individualism seems to be today’s central worldview. This viewpoint maintains that “everybody is ultimately defined by an inner core of feelings that they have, and authenticity is found by being able to express those feelings outwardly.” This out look contends that if a person does not want to become a parent, they should not be made to do so. It is a popular view in today’s media, entertainment, etc. Although 30% of today’s young adults reject parenthood resulting from social pressures to disavow parenthood, 62% still have or want to have kids. 1

THESE TRENDS, FACTS, AND EMERGING REALITIES ARE INFLUENCING YOU AND YOUR CLIENTS’ WORLD TODAY!

34 Christian Counseling Connection