Internet expresses support for woman who shares her reasons on why she decided to not have a baby
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A video of a Sydney-based social media user has made the rounds on social media after she revealed a list of reasons why more and more women are refusing to have a baby.
Maria, who shared a lengthy clip on TikTok, said that a number of factors — such as the "apocalypse" — have led her to not want to have kids.
Credit: TikTok/@m.a.r.i.aaaaaaaa
The 21-year-old said in the video: “Reasons I will not be having children. Number one, I don’t want to."
“Number two, I don’t want my belly to change. I don’t want my organs to move, there’s going to be something stuck in there for nine months."
“Scary things can happen to a woman during pregnancy – you can lose your hair, you can lose your teeth. I don’t want that."
“Number three, what if I don’t like them? Kids are going to grow up, and have their own thoughts and opinions. What if they’re really annoying and I actually hate my child? What if they become an alpha male with a podcast? What do I do then?”
Maria also said that the pandemic or in her words, "the threat of a future apocalypse", is another reason for her to not conceive a baby,
“The world is in a bad place. Realistically, we could be left without food in the next 25 years. Do I want to worry about myself [and] a child? No.”
She also described giving birth as a "scary thing" that causes some "women to die".
Maria quipped: “You rip down to your a**hole and then doctors stitch you up and add an extra stitch for your husband so he can have pleasure.”
"I wouldn’t change my mind about my decision not to procreate."
A number of female social media users agreed with Maria’s reasons for choosing not to have kids. Credit: TikTok/@m.a.r.i.aaaaaaaa.
The video has gained traction on TikTok, amassing more than 665,000 views and over 3,000 comments, with many women agreeing with Maria's reasons.
One woman wrote: "Pregnancy is the biggest nightmare on earth. It has literally not one single positive aspect to it.”
“It’s just not worth it to me,” another added.
A third joked: "I'd rather be that childless fun, rich aunt."
A number of users pointed out the double standards that Maria had to mention to justify her unwillingness to have a child.
One comment read: “As a mum, you shouldn’t have had to pass the first one. ‘I don’t want to’ is a very valid reason! It’s your life and your body.”
“When I think about it, it’s crazy that women need to justify themselves for not wanting kids. Like men don’t need to justify. So why do we have to?!” another added.
A third chimed in: “Honestly! And I’m sick of the comments that we’ll change our mind.”
For some, the decision not to have children is a response to the mounting evidence of the devastating impact of human activity on the environment. With the world facing an unprecedented climate crisis, many young people feel a responsibility to do what they can to reduce their carbon footprint – and for some, that means not having children.
Others cite the high cost of living as a reason for not starting a family. With the cost of housing, childcare and education skyrocketing in many parts of the world, it’s no wonder that young people are reconsidering whether they can afford to have children.
Director of Oxford University’s Institute of Population Ageing and falling birthrates expert, Professor Sarah Harper said that the population is dwindling, explaining: “For the last 200 years we’ve been having fewer and fewer children … as you improve the health of women and offer education they decide to have fewer children.”
“They’re now really in control of their child-bearing in a way they weren’t for so many generations.”
What are your thoughts on this? Are these concerns about not having children valid? Let us know your opinions in the comments below!