The following comes from the Institute for Family Studies. To read the full article, CLICK HERE.
Chappell Roan caused quite a stir on social media following her appearance on the Call Her Daddy podcast,where she made a few bold remarks about parenthood. “All of my friends who have kids are in hell,” she said, adding: “I don’t know anyone who’s happy and has children at this age . . . anyone who has light in their eyes, anyone who has slept.”
Her viral quotes have garnered much criticism, especially from moms, who report that since having children, they have been happier and more fulfilled. One response came from Tessa Smith, a popular influencer, who posted a series of images with her young child on Instagram. The caption? “Dear @chappellroan, I’ve never had more light in my eyes.”
Roan’s recent comments reflect a popular sentiment against family from an increasing number of young people who are choosing to opt out of marriage and parenthood. With a declining fertility rate, her comments raise questions that more Americans seem to be asking. “Is having a child worth it?” “Will getting married and having kids make me happy?” Roan seems to suggest the answer is no, parenthood does not lead to happiness. But recent research tells a different story: married parents, in general, and especially moms, are happier than their childless counterparts.
Married Moms Are Happiest
According to a recent survey conducted by YouGov for the IFS and Wheatley Institute, most married women report the opposite of what Roan implied on Call Her Daddy. Moms, especially married moms, are happier than childless women.
New data reveals that married moms are more likely to report being “very happy” than any other group of women, countering the cultural narrative that motherhood leads to misery.
As the figure above illustrates, 21% of married moms report being very happy, compared to just 10% of unmarried women without children. These findings contradict the popular myth that moms are by and large stressed and miserable. In fact, women in Roan’s demographic—unmarried and childless—are more likely to report lower levels of happiness: 44% of unmarried and childless women claimed they were “not too happy” as compared to only 24% of married moms.
Married Parents Have a Happiness Advantage
To read the full article, CLICK HERE.
