For generations, motherhood was often presented as an expected part of a woman’s life. Today, however, an increasing number of women are questioning that assumption, and some are making a deliberate decision not to have children.
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The shift is part of a broader change in family formation across many developed countries, where fertility rates have fallen, and permanent childlessness has become more common.
But the reasons are not as simple as women “not wanting families.” For many, the decision is shaped by a combination of personal choice, financial pressure, career considerations, changing attitudes towards relationships, and concerns about the future.
Motherhood is increasingly becoming a choice
One of the clearest explanations is also the simplest: some women simply do not want children.
A 2024 Pew Research Centre survey found that among adults aged 18 to 49 who do not have children and say they are unlikely to have them, 57% said not wanting children was a major reason. Among women in that group, the figure was even higher, at 64%, compared with 50% of men.
This reflects a broader cultural change. Women today have more freedom to define adulthood around careers, relationships, travel, hobbies, education and other personal goals without necessarily including motherhood.
For some women, having children is still an important life goal. For others, it simply is not.
On top of not wanting to have children, money is another major consideration. Having a child involves far more than the cost of pregnancy and birth.
Parents face years of expenses involving housing, childcare, food, education, healthcare and other necessities.
Also see: How women can put themselves on their financial priority list
Changing expectations about relationships
The decision to have children is also closely connected to relationships.
Some women do not want to become mothers without a stable, supportive partner. Others may reach an age where they want children but have not found the relationship they consider suitable for starting a family.
Among adults aged 50 and older without children, 33% said not finding the right partner was a major reason they never had children.
That means falling fertility cannot simply be explained by a rejection of motherhood. Some people remain childless because circumstances did not align with their plans.
Women increasingly have socially accepted alternatives to the traditional sequence of marriage, motherhood and family life.
Choosing a fulfilling life can instead involve a career, friendships, relationships, creative pursuits, travel, community involvement, or simply greater personal freedom.
The Pew Research Centre survey concludes, “The rise in women choosing not to have children is therefore unlikely to have a single explanation.”
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