Falling birth rates might not be a crisis, but rather a shift in societal values.
Over the years, Canada has seen a steady decline in birth rates. At the current rate of 1.26 children born in Canada per woman in 2023, the country marked its second consecutive year at a record-low fertility rate.
Economists and politicians are quick to declare this decline as a major problem to the future of the Canadian population. While these consequences are true, collective solutions won’t come unless we understand why people are discouraged from having kids.
Contrary to tradition, becoming a parent is no longer the default path in life. For some, the prospect of raising children doesn’t align with their life goals; for others, it’s not always feasible or achievable.
The decision to forgo having children seems especially foreign when held up against our traditional past, when people were told settling down with a partner and having kids was a natural trajectory of life. While it’s still common to follow this idea, the model of adulthood simply doesn’t fit with how we’ve progressed as a society.
It seems we’re collectively consumed by the fast-paced hustle of modern life; parenthood isn’t what it once was.
Canadians are straying further from the idea of having children for a plethora of reasons, and it’s important to validate their decisions instead of villainizing them. There are so many factors and external pressures complicating the decision to bring a child into the world. Perhaps a reason why our generation is having fewer kids than previous generations is because we’re more cognizant of these factors.
Having kids is easier said than done. Despite the desire, people may delay their decision until the right partner comes along, when they move into a more suitable home, or when they’ve reached a point of financial security. The state of the economy and increased difficulties in seeking meaningful relationships are enough to make this decision for people.
Many of our own parents made sacrifices and took on necessary loads to enhance our livelihoods, but it doesn’t mean we must go down the same path. It’s up to the current generation if they want to emulate this lifestyle or forge a new one.
Coupled with these factors is the social pressure for women to have children by a certain age, all while pursuing their goals. It’s not just fertility, but social expectations and impending deadlines that pressure women into having, or not having, children.
Further, social media exposes us to representations of parenthood we didn’t see before. Whether it’s showcasing the less glamorous aspects of raising kids or pitting parenting styles against each other, it plays a role in causing more people to grow disillusioned by the idea of entering parenthood.
We must begin healthy conversations about adulthood and parenthood, that unite different perspectives instead of driving them apart. People should feel ed, not isolated, in their decisions.
If society’s changing, our views on having kids should be allowed to change, too.
—Journal Editorial Board
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