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Caroline's avatar

"Europe" doesn't mean anything. Europe is not a country. I'm from France, and the situation here (albeit acceptable) is really not the same as the situation in Nordic countries like Sweden, Iceland or Norway. But I get your point, and the fact that maternity leave still doesn't exist in the US baffles me. Also, everything is crazily expensive (paying 1500 dollars a month for daycare ? No thanks) !

In the end, I think people make way less babies because they just... don't want to. The money part is important, but not as much as we think it is. If you truly want to have a child, you will. Personnally, I leave in a country where it's relatively easy (compared to the US) to have a family. But I'm still on the fence, and it's largely in part because of the patriarchy. I don't want to lose my freedom. I don't want to become a domestic slave, like my mother was. I don't want to make sacrifices, because I only have one life. And I bet I'm not the only 30-something who think in these terms.

Honestly, the thing is : if I was a man, I probably would want to have one child. That's another way of answering the question.

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Sara Nilsson's avatar

Swede here. I find it so hilarious that he thought parental leave was boring because all you do i stare at an infant? For 8 months (which would be the time each parent take here if the follow the recommended procedure however a lot of dads still only take the mandatory 3 months). And he actually has kids? Has he MET THEM?

anyhoo USA baffles me daily. It all seems insane. Parents here are tired and burnt out and all that even with childcare and free schools and reduced working hours (if you can afford the pay cut…). It’s still exhausting to have very little adult time. But I do think it’s to a different degree, if you look at population level.

Do come to Sweden, you would like it!

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