Why Some Highly Educated Women Choose to Have Many Children

Quick Overview

Highly educated women who choose to have many children (five or more) often do so due to a strong, deeply held religious belief or cultural narrative that values large families, which contrasts with the prevailing societal norm that views high fertility as burdensome or problematic, according to research discussed by Catherine Pakaluk and Steven Davis.

Key Points: Highly educated women choosing to have five or more children often cite deeply held religious or cultural beliefs as primary motivations, contrasting with societal norms. The research involved interviewing women in large families (six or more children) across various US regions, including those with different religious backgrounds (e.g., Jewish converts, Catholic families). The average number of children for the surveyed group was seven, significantly higher than the national average of 1.5 to 2 children for similarly educated peers. The study found that for many religious women, the desire for children is a core part of their life purpose, contrasting with the perceived societal narrative that large families are detrimental. One key finding highlighted a difference between stated intentions (what people say they want) and realized fertility outcomes, suggesting social and economic factors often limit family size. The interviewees often viewed having many children not as a burden, but as a source of fulfillment, sometimes even finding that having more children made them less self-centered. The research implicitly challenges the narrative that high fertility among educated women is solely due to financial incentives or lack of career opportunities, pointing instead to deeply ingrained cultural or religious values.

Context: This discussion is an interview segment from the Hoover Institution's podcast "Economics Applied," hosted by Senior Fellow Steven Davis, featuring Catherine Pakaluk, Director of Political Economy and Associate Professor of Political Economic Thought at Catholic University. The conversation centers on Pakaluk's book, "Hannah's Children: The Women Who Choose to Have Many Children," which explores the motivations of highly educated American women who opt for large families (five or more children), contrasting their choices with prevailing societal and economic expectations.