Childlessness at Record High in U.S.

A June 2010 PEW report said that more women are remaining childless.

"A new study from the Pew Research Center shows that childlessness is at a record high in America. One in five women aged 40 to 44 reported that they've never had children. Meanwhile, just 41 percent of Americans say having children is necessary to a good marriage, compared to 65 percent in 1990."

"The likelihood that a woman without a high school diploma will be childless after 40 has increased 66 percent since 1994."

I just noticed an obituary of a 79 year old acquaintance that had three children. What is interesting is he only had one grandchild. In previous generations an old man would have had numerous grandchildren. I have 6 grandchildren. My father had 10. My grandfather had 20.

The world demographics are definitely changing, and so will the male female roles. Will the populations of the world shrink to a fraction of its current 6.5 billion people? I think it will.

The changing lifestyles of women means men will have more competition for value. As women gain political and economic power it does not bode well for men.

I'm not omniscient, but I predict women will become more aggressive as they enter the competitive work place and take on positions of power. Men have a challenge of living a life in the future that brings fulfillment and happiness.

On the other hand, men may adapt well to the changing female roles. Men may be happier as a domestic stay at home instead of the past duties of responsibility for being a provider and protector. Let the women deal with those roles while struggling in the competitive work place.

If men will not be valuable to women in the future as they have been in the past I think men will adapt to their changing roles. They will become more self centered and do things for themselves since they will not have to do things for women and children.

Men may become domesticated house pets for the aggressive women. She will come home from a stressful day at work and her house pet will wag his tail and make her happy, if she has a passive dog. If she has a Pit Bull, she will come home and take him to a fighting class.

Charles Tolleson