Hannah Bentley
Gen Z is often accused of being a ‘sex-phobic’ generation, and consequently of declining British birth rates. While the truth behind such claims is disputable, older generations remain quick to blame mobile phones and the internet. As a member of Gen-Z myself, I thought it was worth considering the accuracy behind these accusations.
In reality, the reason for the decline in birth rates is much more complex than one generation’s habits. In fact, the number of births has been steadily declining across the globe since the 1960s when the oral contraceptive pill was invented. People having fewer children than the previous generation is nothing new.
So, why does the birth rate keep declining? Is any of the hysteria around Gen-Z’s sex lives true? Or are we purposefully deciding to go child-free?
Too Tired and Stressed for Sex
“sex falling to the bottom of our to-do list”
In some cases, Gen-Z is having less sex than the previous generations – but not necessarily because they’re stuck behind their phone screens. Many people, not just from Gen-Z, have reported that they feel they just don’t have time for sex. The rise in hustle culture encourages people to work non-stop, leading to burnout and sex falling to the bottom of our to-do list. Researchers found in 2012 that people engage in sexual activity three times per month compared to five times a month in 1991.
Gen-Z has also been labelled the most stressed generation ever. Anxiety is at an all-time high and prescriptions for mental health issues are common. This makes sense because there’s a lot to be worried about; global warming, possible future pandemics, nuclear annihilation, the cost-of-living crisis…. need I go on? It can all be incredibly overwhelming, meaning sex is the last thing on our minds and the idea of bringing a baby into the world seems totally ludicrous. This is especially true when we’re constantly checking our feeds and receiving notifications reminding us of the current state of the globe.
“When the online world seems to meet your every need, forming social connections in person can seem like an unnecessary stress”
Psychologists believe technology and social media also mean younger people find it hard to socialise. When the online world seems to meet your every need, forming social connections in person can seem like unnecessary stress, which has only been furthered by covid-19 lockdowns. Our inadequate social skills haven’t been helped by the increase in working remotely. The lack of workplace communities has meant the chances of office romances are less likely, so you can kiss your Jim and Pam office love-story goodbye.
Can Gen-Z Even Get Pregnant?
Whilst some are scoffing at the idea of having babies, others are desperately trying to conceive. The number of people seeking IVF and reproductive help is increasing as the rate of fertility is declining. Due to the current environmental crisis our reproductive abilities are being affected by pollution and microplastics. Traces of fossil fuels have been found in people’s blood, urine, semen, placenta, and breast milk. These pollutants have the ability to disrupt our hormonal functions which can affect fertility and can also be linked to miscarriages and stillbirths.
“there’s been a 51.6% drop in sperm count per millilitre of semen, limiting the chances of conception”
A lack of sperm is also affecting our ability to procreate. From 1973 to 2018 there’s been a 51.6% drop in sperm count per millilitre of semen, limiting the chances of conception. This is happening all over the globe and has been described by global public officials as a ‘major public health problem’. Scientists and medical professionals aren’t sure exactly why the sperm count is declining so rapidly, but environmental factors as well as lifestyle choices (poor diet, lack of exercise) have been blamed.
Our Parents Had It Easier
“Not only is it impossible to get on the property ladder but its expensive to raise a child.”
Another reason for Gen-Z’s low birth rate is that people are generally having babies later in life. Not only is it impossible to get on the property ladder – it’s expensive to raise a child. In the UK it can cost upwards of £200,000 to support a child from birth till 18 years old, with an average of 65% of parents’ income going towards childcare. So, it’s a sensible financial decision to wait to start a family. However, having children into your 30s can make it more difficult to become pregnant, which also influences the rise in fertility issues.
On top of this, the disruption of covid has made it difficult for younger people to gain financial stability and progress in their careers. Many are still stuck living at home. Sharing a house with your parents doesn’t create the most romantic environment, which also explains the decline in sexual activity. There just isn’t enough privacy to get down to business!
But all hope is not lost! The oldest person in Gen-Z is 27 and the average age of mothers in the UK is currently 30, so there’s still time for us to have lots of babies. We just need to take more time for ourselves and relax, switch off our phones and let the magic happen…
Featured image courtesy of Liv Bruce on Unsplash. Image license can be found here. No changes were made to this image.
