Miscortes, your question is a good one and I think the answer may depend on who you ask because I believe the answer does have broader, perhaps even cultural implications. In many societies women start having kids earlier (15-16 y/o) and end their child-bearing years when natures takes it away. While men in these social groups may never be concerned about age and opt for a younger wife.
I think men and women in western societies such as the United States have different reasons for wanting to stop having children at a certain age. The fear of down syndrome is a western culture concern over other societies, but we also carry the fear of dying and leaving the kid(s) parentless. Our reasons may not be shared by other ethnic groups even within the borders of our own country. There are some religious groups also when men are procreating until very advanced age. Women have a clock and when that stops, if we want more kids, we go to the adoption office....although hormone therapies today could stretch that "clock" much further, we still worry about dying and leaving the kid behind if mom or dad dies while still young.
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Miscortes, your question is a good one and I think the answer may depend on who you ask because I believe the answer does have broader, perhaps even cultural implications. In many societies women start having kids earlier (15-16 y/o) and end their child-bearing years when natures takes it away. While men in these social groups may never be concerned about age and opt for a younger wife.
I think men and women in western societies such as the United States have different reasons for wanting to stop having children at a certain age. The fear of down syndrome is a western culture concern over other societies, but we also carry the fear of dying and leaving the kid(s) parentless. Our reasons may not be shared by other ethnic groups even within the borders of our own country. There are some religious groups also when men are procreating until very advanced age. Women have a clock and when that stops, if we want more kids, we go to the adoption office....although hormone therapies today could stretch that "clock" much further, we still worry about dying and leaving the kid behind if mom or dad dies while still young.
January 24, 2009 - 11:25pmThis Comment
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