Not to mention the prohibitive costs of IVF for couples with fertility issues.
The Australian Multiple Birth Association recently campaigned for an increase in government paid maternity/paternity leave for parents of multiples and the comments on the ABC articles about it were so enlightening ... or rather, eye-opening. So many comments saying “if you can’t afford them don’t have them” or “I should’nt have to pay for your kids with my tax money”. So yeah, I think you’re right -- as a society we see the responsibility of care as that of the nuclear family, not the extended community and nation.
I think the statement that children are a luxury item is coming from a western perspective of what is necessary to raise a child, and a level of privilege. Granted, cost of living and other services and goods have increased but there are many people around the world who live on a lot less than the people who make this statement and they would not view having a child as a luxury. Just that people make choices and compromises to facilitate costs for for the family. I do agree with the points made in the article, it’s just the statement that comes off as obnoxiously western in its frame of reference.
You said all the things I’ve been thinking about in motherhood and raising kids in America. It’s very much a western world thought but it’s also a reality of a divide we have here in raising families. Even without having beige toys and an IG aesthetic family, it’s still hard and so so expensive for so many families who work hard, live on low income, or even in middle class. I know many of them personally. I say this with much economic privilege and I see the disparity.
Thanks for the thought provocation Jade! Comments such as 'Kids are a luxury item' truly sadden me and in my opinion point to a failed western culture where as a society we don't place enough value on motherhood and family life. I don't disagree that having a family, and a large one at that, has financial implications, particularly in today's economic conditions. But I take issue with phrases like this being thrown around frivolously because I think it denigrates what it means to have a child, and become a parent. It is not and should not be a right of only the rich. It is a human right as you so rightly point out, and if we continue to allow people to think of children as a luxury item and a responsibility of the nuclear family only, then we will never flourish as a society. I'm quite passionate about this topic and write about it frequently. Loved reading this article of yours.
Not to mention the prohibitive costs of IVF for couples with fertility issues.
The Australian Multiple Birth Association recently campaigned for an increase in government paid maternity/paternity leave for parents of multiples and the comments on the ABC articles about it were so enlightening ... or rather, eye-opening. So many comments saying “if you can’t afford them don’t have them” or “I should’nt have to pay for your kids with my tax money”. So yeah, I think you’re right -- as a society we see the responsibility of care as that of the nuclear family, not the extended community and nation.
Thanks for an insightful read!
I think the statement that children are a luxury item is coming from a western perspective of what is necessary to raise a child, and a level of privilege. Granted, cost of living and other services and goods have increased but there are many people around the world who live on a lot less than the people who make this statement and they would not view having a child as a luxury. Just that people make choices and compromises to facilitate costs for for the family. I do agree with the points made in the article, it’s just the statement that comes off as obnoxiously western in its frame of reference.
You said all the things I’ve been thinking about in motherhood and raising kids in America. It’s very much a western world thought but it’s also a reality of a divide we have here in raising families. Even without having beige toys and an IG aesthetic family, it’s still hard and so so expensive for so many families who work hard, live on low income, or even in middle class. I know many of them personally. I say this with much economic privilege and I see the disparity.
Thanks for the thought provocation Jade! Comments such as 'Kids are a luxury item' truly sadden me and in my opinion point to a failed western culture where as a society we don't place enough value on motherhood and family life. I don't disagree that having a family, and a large one at that, has financial implications, particularly in today's economic conditions. But I take issue with phrases like this being thrown around frivolously because I think it denigrates what it means to have a child, and become a parent. It is not and should not be a right of only the rich. It is a human right as you so rightly point out, and if we continue to allow people to think of children as a luxury item and a responsibility of the nuclear family only, then we will never flourish as a society. I'm quite passionate about this topic and write about it frequently. Loved reading this article of yours.