Remote work may have fueled a baby boom among U.S. women

Post by luckylion » Wed, Oct 19, 2022, 3:33 PM UTC

lotsofpulp wrote: post #7

Bostonian wrote: post #6

The article says, "Much of that cohort was able to work from home, which gave parents more time and flexibility to deal with the life changes and demands that pregnancy and a new baby bring." I guess it's indelicate to say that when a man and woman are both stuck at home, more babies will be conceived. People who were unattached during the lockdown were probably less likely to find a mate, though.

> I guess it's indelicate to say that when a man and woman are both stuck at home, more babies will be conceived. It would be inaccurate to assume an increase in frequency of sex will lead to more babies, in the age of access to very effective birth control. Many (most I assume?) choose when to have or try to have children.

Post by lotsofpulp » Wed, Oct 19, 2022, 3:38 PM UTC

luckylion wrote: post #32

lotsofpulp wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I guess it's indelicate to say that when a man and woman are both stuck at home, more babies will be conceived. It would be inaccurate to assume an increase in frequency of sex will lead to more babies, in the age of access to very effective birth control. Many (most I assume?) choose when to have or try to have children.

> Many (most I assume?) choose when to have or try to have children. Might sound a bit too cynical for this site, but plenty of people decided to get a dog in 2020. Why shouldn't they choose to have a baby for the same reasons?

Post by chatterhead » Wed, Oct 19, 2022, 3:39 PM UTC

Post by antisthenes » Wed, Oct 19, 2022, 3:40 PM UTC

lotsofpulp wrote: post #22

seydor wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Returning to the workforce does not mean returning to the office anymore. I can imagine mother-friendly remote work as a replacement/supplement to maternal/paternal leave

I cannot imagine that, babies and toddlers require attention frequently and randomly. Unless you have zero meetings, loose deadlines, and very asynchronous contact with the rest of the business, it would be a very difficult balance. Might work for first 6 months when all they do is sleep, eat, and lay around, but as soon as they are moving or aware that they can get things they want, predictability goes out the windo…

Post by lotsofpulp » Wed, Oct 19, 2022, 3:48 PM UTC

antisthenes wrote: post #38

lotsofpulp wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I cannot imagine that, babies and toddlers require attention frequently and randomly. Unless you have zero meetings, loose deadlines, and very asynchronous contact with the rest of the business, it would be a very difficult balance. Might work for first 6 months when all they do is sleep, eat, and lay around, but as soon as they are moving or aware that they can get things they want, predictability goes out the windo…

Asynchronous is the new norm. If I were a parent, I would absolutely push back on less important meetings and ask them to email me instead with a summary.