Decline in the age of motherhood

BY: Ebube Okeke

Over the last months, I’ve received multiple recommendations for one single book: Jane Eyre. I finally got around to cracking its cover and can happily say that I’m a quarter of the way through – and enjoying it very much.

Jane Eyre is prominently known for the rather stormy relationships the title character has with Mr. Rochester and St. John.I found this quite inspiring, particularly in a world which motherhood and its traits seem to be devalued and in decline.

I mean, really, motherhood is essential to society. Is it fair to suggest that becoming a mother is now looked down upon and viewed as a station to be avoided instead of revered?

Certain indicators suggest yes. The first is the gradual decline in American mothers as well as Nigerians mothers. In Nigeria, moms made one of the biggest demographics but have fallen today, same was said about American moms in Jane’s book.

A second indication of motherhood’s decline can be seen in the rise of depression amongst millennial mothers.

According to a new study out of Bristol University, millennial women are eight percentage points more likely to suffer depression than their own mothers were. Researchers attribute this to the rise of social media and other pressures, including the pressure to work outside of the home.

Today a lot of importance have been placed on college degrees, being an entrepreneur, earning income etc. Women don’t want to be left out and push to achieve a lot of great things that they forget about child bearing or see it as a pressure.

“‘As compared with the 1990s, the proportion of mothers working has increased substantially, and inflexible work arrangements and work pressure are associated with greater depressive symptoms in mothers.

‘Difficulties balancing work and home may be increasing, and this may be reflected by the increase of women reporting ‘things are getting too much’ compared with their mother’s generation.’”

This days most ladies don’t get married as early as women in the 90’s. Those days we would find women getting married at 16 and start bearing children almost immediately. Fast forward to the 21st century, things are not the same, we would find a 30 year old woman who has accomplished several things buy has no husband or a child. In her book, Jane referred to such a lady as a career girl .

The level of maturity of those days and now is quite different. A certain kind of maturity is required to birth a child, nurture and care. Not all 21st century ladies attain that level of maturity at the age of 16.

 Although we still have cases of teenage pregnancy, it has dropped by a whooping 50% since year 2000. With the enlightenment, exposure and information the  rate would still drop