How the Experiences of Life Without Children Differ Between Men and Women

A new survey from Pew Research Center has examined the demographic differences among the experiences of adults without children, both those who are older than 50 and never had children and those who are under 50 and do not plan on having children. While the experiences of childless adults primarily do not vary by gender, there are some ares where the experiences between men and women without children differ considerably.

Among older adults, women (18 percent) were more likely than men (12 percent) to report struggles with infertility and that was a major reason they did not have children. Older men were more likely to say their primary reasons for not having children were that it just never happened, concerns for the state of the world, and financial concerns. Among younger adults, women (64 percent) were significantly more likely than men (50 percent) to say they simply do not want children.

The majority of both men and women, older and younger, believe their hobbies, financial outcomes, and social life have been more successful than if they would have had children. Roughly half of older women say not having children made it easier to be successful in their career, compared to only 39 percent of older men.

Although the majority of respondents expressed several ways they have benefited from not having children, some women reported difficulties they experienced due to life without children. Older women were more likely to report they sometimes receive less flexibility at work and feel left out of consersations with co-workers who do have children. Older women were more likely than men to report not having children made it more difficult for them to maintain friendships with adults who do have children.

Younger women without children (41 percent) were significantly more likely than men (26 percent) to say they are at least sometimes asked by friends if they plan to have children. Similarly, about 42 percent of older women reported feeling societal pressure to have children when they were younger, compared to only 27 percent of older men.

Notably, there were stark differences in the financial and educational differences between men and women with children compared to men and women who don’t have children. Women without children are significantly more likely than mothers to be employed and have at least a bachelor’s degree. On average, women without children also have higher salaries than mothers. In contrast, men without children were just as likely as fathers to be employed and have an advanced degree. However, fathers were found to have a higher average monthly income compared to men without children.