For in-person attendees, the talk will be preceded by a light lunch at 12.15pm.

Please email comms@sociology.ox.ac.uk with any questions.

Abstract

Why do young adults postpone childbearing? In this talk, I examine how the spread of intensive parenting norms, including the cultural idea that good parenting is (and should be) inherently financially and emotionally demanding, influences young adults’ ideas about whether and when to have children. 

I draw on 59 longitudinal in-depth interviews with childless young adults in the United States from a range of backgrounds. I show how the perceived prerequisites for parenthood, including financial stability, emotional, mental, and physical health, and finding the right partner, stem not only from structural changes but also from cultural ideas associated with good parenting. 

Young adults describe multiple strategies to navigate the uncertainty of meeting those prerequisites, including doing their best, embracing flexibility, and seeking community support. I discuss how perceived prerequisites and strategies to navigate uncertainty vary across socio-demographic groups, and how they might widen inequalities in reproductive experiences.