Why Childree?
“Ayaw kong magka-anak”, “parang nakakatakot magka-anak”, “mahirap mag ka-pamilya”. Do you also get these comments among the younger generation? These are only some of the phrases I mostly hear from people my age every time having kids is being talked about.
According to PSA, the Philippines’ population has recorded a significant drop, that is from 37% of the population in 2000 down to 30.7% in 2021. Among Millennials and Gen Zs, it has been observed that there’s an increasing trend of aversion to reproduction.
The world perceives childfree individuals in a negative light as it has been a traditional belief that one core element of human life revolves around reproduction.
In the Philippines, being a predominantly Catholic nation, there exists a cultural norm suggesting that a fulfilling life entail having a family composed of a father, a mother, and children. However, this notion faces challenges as there is a growing trend toward opting for a childless lifestyle.
Despite the country’s entrenched traditional religious beliefs, we should understand this shift and reflect on why an increasing number of generations are choosing not to pursue traditional parenthood.
Voluntary childlessness is a conscious decision made by a couple, who are qualified and healthy, to not go through childbearing and parenthood altogether. In an age of rapid social change and technological advancement, this choice of lifestyle has garnered attention in every part of the world which is attributed to various factors throughout the years.
Economic uncertainty and finances are one of the top reasons of why the new generation of Filipinos aren’t having kids.
As a third world country, long dealing with effects of recessions, corruptions, inflation, and low wages already makes it hard to survive as an individual in the economic state of the Philippines.
Additionally, the absence of legal frameworks and protective measures exacerbates these difficulties, with the lack of universal healthcare, accessible education and housing, legalized abortion, and governmental support for family planning further contributing to the strain on prospective parents.
According to Lieberman & Orlansky in 2018, Overpopulation and concerns on environmental sustainability have led people to consider having a smaller family size and some even chose to forgo parenthood altogether in order to control their own ecological footprint for the betterment of the planet’s condition.
Aside from socio-economic reasons, it has been observed that there’s an interrelation between higher level of education and high rates in childlessness, and between education and career path decisions. Pursuing a career is one major reason for voluntary aversion to procreation.
As the world develops, there is a distinguished improvement of independence, access to education, opportunities, and freedom. Most are now opting to seek self-fulfillment, especially as women today have more life options than women did years ago.
It is also argued that individuals now find an alternative not to bear children because of the availability of contraceptives.
Despite these numbers and factors, individuals who opt not to have children continue to encounter discrimination, societal pressures, and infringements on their rights.
These realities underscore the importance of acknowledging and normalizing the decisions stemming from these issues. Addressing these matters promptly is crucial to prevent potential micro and macro-level consequences that may arise as a result. Youth is the future of our world. We believe responsible procreation plays an important role in building and creating a new and better world. As claimed by one theory, if there are no or fewer children and younger people growing up in a society, no new ideas or inventions could occur.