DURHAM, N.H.—Research from the University of New Hampshire reports that in 2024 there were 5.7 million more childless women of prime child-bearing age than expected given prior patterns—a significant jump from 2.1 million in 2016 and 4.7 million in 2022. This shift in fertility patterns has contributed to 11.8 million fewer births than expected in the past 17 years. “Childless rates increased the most among women under 30, where fertility rate declines were also greatest,” said Kenneth Johnson, professor of sociology and senior demographer at UNH’s Carsey School of Public Policy.
  • andros_rex@lemmy.world
    26·
    18 hours ago

    Historically, women didn’t have much choice in the matter.

    1. not allowed to work, own property, etc etc, so you have to marry a man, and presumably he’s going to fuck you. Remember that marital rape wasn’t considered a crime in any U.S. state until the 70’s, and wasn’t illegal everywhere until the 90s. Most cultures in history have not considered marital rape a crime, and most cultures have necessitated women be supported in heterosexual marriages.
    1. access to birth control. It was a felony for unmarried people to possess condoms or birth control medication until 1972 in the US. Condoms also weren’t floating around in the Middle Ages, iirc they start to exist in the early modern period. Effective birth control is really a 20th century thing.

    Very early cultures did practice infanticide in times of trouble, but most religions began to frown on that very heavily.

      • andros_rex@lemmy.world
        12·
        17 hours ago

        Trump’s lawyer told Ivanka that marital rape wasn’t a crime when they were going through their divorce in the 90’s. It was by that point, but she didn’t know.

        It’s a pretty fucked up incident - he was in pain from a hair transplant, ripped out her hair (giving her bald spots) and raped her. She recanted the rape claim, 100% because Trump’s lawyers threatened her into silence and lied to her.

        So yeah, in light of Trump also suggesting that it was unfair to include domestic violence in crime statistics, I doubt this administration really considers marital rape a crime. I would not be surprised if at the state level there was an increased reluctance to prosecute marital rape and domestic violence in hell hole red states.

        • DearOldGrandma@lemmy.world
          1·
          14 hours ago

          I’m from MS, and my anecdotal experience is not representative of everyone. That being said, the number of people I knew that who experienced sexual abuse in their marriages was shockingly high compared to other placed I have lived.

    • ArbitraryValue@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      11·
      18 hours ago

      But then how do you explain why the within-county trends match both the trends across countries and the historical trends?