A few days ago, the New York Times Room For Debate page addressed issues around a woman’s choice to pursue education versus bearing / caring for children.
The premise is as follows.
With more education, women have fewer children and, with fewer children, they’re more likely to pursue education – and thus reap the benefits.
Apparently we’re looking into this simplistic interpretation not only for causation, but the possibility of more nuance. We’re concluding that education doesn’t cause women to bear fewer children, though the two are related.
Isn’t this obvious?
And why should we care?
Schools vs Playgrounds
According to Professor Joel E. Cohen, in his article, “Schools or Playgrounds”, since education and childbearing impact women’s prospects in life,
Economists, policy makers and politicians care because education and childbearing shape economic development and population growth.
Well, that makes sense. The more schooling – the fewer children. Or so it would seem, which leads one to believe that we could manage population by increasing education levels. And demographers have been watching and studying exactly that.
A no-brainer, don’t you think?
With a bit of knowledge we’re all more likely to use birth control and experience fewer teen pregnancies. With more education, we’re more likely to want to pursue interests, to establish careers, and defer having children – in part so we’ll be able to support them. And studies (cited in the series of articles) reflect that the trend toward fewer children among (better) educated women is seen in countries as diverse as Norway and Niger.
But it’s not as simple as schooled or unschooled. Economics, culture, and evolving cultural change come into play.
Women’s Lives – Common Sense
Again, most women would say this is common sense, which is exactly what frustrates me about this sort of discussion and research – and conclusions like the one referenced in a Norwegian study:
… childbearing kept Norwegian women from pursuing a higher education more than education impeded childbearing.
Hello? Are we surprised?
But let’s not forget the desire to establish causation! I refer you to the issue of the chicken-or-the-egg, as presented by Professor Parfait M. Eloundou-Enyeuge of Cornell. At least he suggests that this isn’t an “either-or” proposition – that with more schooling women bear fewer children, or that with more children, women’s prospects are less bright.
He says it’s a matter of “how much” these issues come into play.
Granted.
Still, I’m shaking my head. I’m sputtering. I’m wondering if my tax dollars are funding any studies here at home. And I do believe that it’s important to arm ourselves with information so we can make good policy decisions. But this? Really?
I suspect that Didi from Philadelphia would agree that our attention is better aimed elsewhere – on health care, childcare options, and unemployment. It’s her comment that says it all for me, following Professor’s Eloundou-Enyeuge’s article.
My friends and I, despite our college and advanced degrees, can’t undertake the responsibility of having children… we can’t pay for rent, childcare, and health insurance. Isn’t that also a problem?
Let’s hear it for Didi!
And likewise, for other comments from women, echoing my sentiments concerning the self-evident nature of these conclusions, and the urgency of looking at how to fix the problems we know about.
Is my cynicism showing?
Women, Kids, Money
Of course a woman’s well-being and prospects are affected by the number of children she has and her education! And likewise, the age at which she bears them, the cultural and social context in which she raises them, not to mention her ability to feed them!
Those of us who are or have been in the parenting trenches day in and day out are well aware of the stamina and skills it takes, not to mention the cost – and I don’t just mean opportunity cost.
Those who condemn women for not having children, as well as those hoping for children in the future might want to revisit their assumptions. As expressed by Didi from Philadelphia, decisions are being made to defer childbearing – not necessarily for “selfish” reasons, but as a complex matter of economic survival.
And then there’s divorce. And when it comes, as it does for half of us, isn’t divorce a career killer? Doesn’t it make everything tougher – and not just bringing home the bacon?
Is this really about choices that women make – or their absence?
I will add that I wholeheartedly agree with this statement, expressed by Arline Geronimus, a professor at University of Michigan:
In reality, few women have the luxury to make decisions regarding when to have a child or whether to pursue their education without taking other factors into account, facing conflicts and making trade-offs.
Let’s get real. The issue of women and childbearing still comes down to biology – but whatever choices we have are either hampered or helped by society – not to mention a bit of good fortune.
So what’s your take?
- Do you believe these studies provide insight?
- To what extent has availability and cost of childcare kept you from pursuing work-for-pay?
- To what extent has your income level affected the size of your family?
- Is it better to choose whatever feels like the work-life configuration that allows you to manage?
- Are you planning for a time when that work-life scenario changes, as inevitably, it will?
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Oooh tough questions. I’m a weirdo, I guess, so I don’t think these studies really help because everything’s so unique (isn’t it?).
I got pregnant with my first child while pursuing my bachelors. I took a break but graduated while pregnant with my SECOND child. I then proceeded to be a SAHM until Ex’s spending put me in a position I had to go back to work AND at a job that would cover daycare cost plus increase income. It was a dumb move but also served me well.
Despite being educated and informed, stupid doctors made birth control difficult for me so only two of my three pregnancies were planned. I did choose a Mom-friendly degree and that may not have been the final outcome had I NOT been a mom. Mom-friendly degrees tend to pay less as they lead to mom-friendly jobs.
It’s a never-ending spiral into mayhem.
A never-ending spiral into mayhem.
Love the way you put that, Supermodel. I agree.
I am not one to ask, as I had all my children young, while attending college. Then later returned to school.
Now divorced, I find it difficult to find work and wonder if it has anything to do with the fact I have children. Interesting article. I have to wonder why the fact that many women cannot FIND work if the employers KNOW they are mothers or worse SINGLE MOTHERS. They assume that you will miss a lot of work, regardless of experience or education. They assume that because you have children, you will not be a model employee. Is the same true of men with children?
Such important questions, NAS. I established my career early, following my education, and had my children later. It wasn’t a choice exactly; it was a matter of when I met someone with whom I thought marriage would work. I had hoped that by having an established career already, and keeping a hand in throughout the process of raising my children, that it would “protect” me to some degree from the issues you mention.
It didn’t.
I think we all need to ask ourselves the questions you ask. And I wish the men would weigh in. I genuinely want to know what they’ve experienced – especially the single dads – for themselves, their exes, their current wives if on a second marriage.
Income has definitely affected the number of children I have and I am not happy about it.
The need for private school, cost of housing and healthcare has made a significant impact. It is really tough to live on one income, even when you make “real money” because the things that come with kids all eat up real chunks of it.
I have my master’s degree. I have three kids. I occasionally work on freelance projects, but mostly, I take care of my kids. Some days I regret not using my education more, just as some days I want to run screaming from the house. I feel lucky that I have the choice to stay home, work when I want, and take a break when I need it. I know I’m in the minority, and I don’t know that I would be able to be a mother and have a career and maintain my individuality if I didn’t have these choices. Surely the latter would suffer, making the first two nearly impossible … Ah, the Catch-22 of mothering.
Stacia’s situation describes me exactly: three kids, master’s degree, very part-time work-at-home scenario with a partner whose income allowed us to have the number of kids we wanted. And I agree with everything she wrote about choices and the fallacy of “balance.”
I would just add that it seems to me that, as women lucky enough to have choices that so many do not, I think we have a great responsibility to advocate for causes that benefit women and families who don’t (affordable childcare, affordable healthcare, high-quality public schools).
Thank you for this sentiment, Kristen. It’s wonderful to recognize that one is in a good position (albeit very tiring!), but to acknowledge that means advocating for those who aren’t is much appreciated.
Once upon a time, I felt “immune” to the many events that occurred 10 years ago and since, by virtue of a good education and excellent work experience. We simply cannot foresee changes like accident or illness, restructuring of an industry, and in many cases – the end of a marriage.
Any one of these events can impact us and our ability to support our families. Few are immune; we need to stand by each other for changes that will prevent so many from slipping through the cracks.
I’m not a Mom yet. I waited. If you ask me why I will explain that I wanted my first child before 30 but I went to grad school. It was a brief residency program where I had to be on campus for weeks each semester. Had it been a traditional program I may have tried to get pregnant during the program. I also wanted to be stable in a job and didn’t like the idea of getting pregnant soon after getting a job–until I learned my industry is volatile.
Now ask Sweetheart why we waited and he will tell you it was finances. He wanted a specific amount in our retirement funds.
Then came the midlife crisis and starting a family was on hold again.
And now…premature ovulatory failure–early perimenopause. So should we have not waited? No, given the information we had it was still the right decision.
Now I have switched careers and write from home; sometimes I make some money! So we have less income and are trying to adopt–that costs.
I read your comments and even though things are difficult financially for so many with kids, I wish I were there too. They are already difficult without kids and it will get harder–until I win the Pulitzer (think big!), but it’s time for us to now have children.
Each person’s reasons for waiting or not waiting vary–even between partners. I wish I had kids right now. But I cannot say I have regrets. I don’t have my children yet, but if I had done something different, what would be of the children I will have? I am supposed to be their mother.
As for the studies… I draw a blank. I don’t know what I think because when I start thinking about children my mind goes toward that and I get a bit emotional–not in a bad way.
You guys are living the sacrifice; you know that children are a blessing even though they come with challenges.
Believe me Rollercoasterider, I know my good fortune in having been able to have children as an “older” mom. As with everything in life, we make decisions with what we know at the time, and much is outside our control.
Wishing you all good luck in filling your home with children just waiting to be loved.
To notasoccermom, I have read that single mothers do find it much harder to find work. I believe it was in the book put out by momsrising.org (http://momsrising.org) that spoke about one potential employer who flat out told an interviewee that she wasn’t going to get hired because of it. They assume we’ll be out more because there’s no one to help us with the children.
My two cents: you are not required to give any personal info at interviews so as much as possible, avoid the subject entirely!
April – Good reference and advice to notasoccermom. I will say, however, that all a potential employer has to do is get on the Internet and they can find out if you have kids, if you’re divorced, how old you are… and free of charge. Those with a smaller “digital footprint” may take more searching, but how many of us looking for work don’t have some sort of professional information on the Internet?
I will add that all it takes is asking about availability for overtime or late hours, weekend work or travel. And unless you stretch the truth (or lie), it’s pretty clear you’re likely to have parenting responsibilities.