Quote from CorwinI recently had a drink with a few ex-colleagues, and one of them (a woman) was talking about the fact that all of her sisters and friends were having 2 to 3 children. Each time she had a discussion with them, it was like "So, when is it your turn?". For most people around here, having children is no longer a conscious choice: a fulfilling life can't go without giving birth, does it?My colleague doesn't want kids for now, she thinks the world is too populated already and if she's gonna have any, she'll prefer adoption. She said she felt strange at family dinners when all of her sisters came along with their 2-3 kids each running & screaming all around, like she's a stranger.
I believe, despite the fact that this example is completely off-topic, that this is a similar thing to the circumcision in America. It's so old traditions that it kind of merged with people's instincts, even though there's no longer any good explanation for doing so. Kind of a demesured fashion: nobody remembers where is came from, but if you're to be "in", you gotta follow the movement.
EDIT: Another example an ex-girlfriend who, being 20 years old, had already decided that she'd marry at 28, and make her 1st children at 28, the second at 30 and the last one at 32, so they're all 18 when she turns 50. I found that pretty depressing. She didn't care who she'd marry or have children with ("whoever happens to be around at that time"), but knew when it would happen and there was no way to argue with that. Her parents had 3 children btw.
I think it's problematic to compare the urge or "will" to replicate with the custom to chop off the tip of a boy's penis, be it for religious, traditional or hygienic reasons.
There is more to having kids than just tradition, it is a necessity for a species (or in our case also "a civilization") in order to continue existence.
On a personal level, it should be up to everyone personally, if you want to pass on your gens to the next generation. The status quo is, that most people have kids, as opposed to people who prefer to be kid-less (excluding couples that wish to have kids but can't).
The fact that your colleague feels that she is not meeting society's expectations is unfortunate, but her own choice..As opposed to baby boys, who are circumcised without any questions being asked, for very questionable reason (as in: absolutely not necessary).
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