The Desire for Voluntary Childlessness among Low-Income Youth

Abstract

Data from 480 males and 466 females from low-income groups in 6 Southern states are used to explore differences betweeen those who state a desire for a childfree life and those who want children. Independent variables include educational and occupational aspirations and expectations labor force intentions of young women age at marriage preference and desires for urban residence. It was found that the high school aged young women who wanted to remain childless had higher social mobility orientations were less willing to accept the position of housewife only were more likely to prefer an urban residence and expected to marry at later ages. Males desiring no children had lower educational and occupational goals than those wanting children consistent with previous research which found a low career involvement among childless men. In the present study males who did not want children expected to marry at later ages and were more likely to want to live in urban areas. (authors modified)