An analysis said a trend is spreading among young women in the U.S. conservative camp to divide life into "seasons" and rearrange the order of family and career. They choose marriage and childbirth first in their 20s and then build their careers in earnest from their 30s, a shift seen as shaking up the traditional career-first model.
On the 22nd (local time), the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that conservative activist Isabel Brown, 28, married last year and had her first child this year. Brown hosts a podcast while serving as the head of the conservative group Turning Point and said, "Younger generations are beginning to find greater meaning in a life where they build a family first." The word "season," which describes this trend, originates from Ecclesiastes in the Bible and is used to mean "there is a role for each point in life."
This change is also evident in statistics. An analysis of the General Social Survey (GSS) in the United States found that as of last year, about 75% of progressive women ages 18 to 35 were childless, while the share of childless conservative women was about 40%. Considering that the gap between the two groups was 5 percentage points just 15 years ago, the disparity has widened significantly. Researchers explained that while the progressive camp prefers the "DINK (dual income, no kids)" model, the conservative camp still "tends to see childbirth as part of completing life."
Women's groups in the conservative camp are also actively supporting this trend. Kimberly Begg, president of the conservative-leaning nonprofit Clare Boothe Luce Center, used the greater flexibility in work formats after the COVID-19 pandemic to adjust in-person work hours to 2 p.m. Begg said, "Women can continue working only if time with family is structurally guaranteed." Recalling how frequent business trips in the past made her miss childrearing, she said, "It's impossible to have work and family perfectly at the same time, but choices that fit each 'season' are possible."
In policy circles, cases of putting the "season" strategy into practice are also increasing. Emma Waters, an analyst at the Heritage Foundation, is raising two children while working remotely. Waters said, "I gave up some career opportunities, but the most important priority is the children," and argued that social support should be expanded so young mothers can work flexibly.
The conservative camp believes this trend could go beyond a simple restoration of family values and be connected to addressing the "loneliness" and identity anxiety that Generation Z experiences. Brown, the head of Turning Point, said, "The notion that marriage and childbirth restrict freedom is not true," adding, "The meaning of life comes from relationships." Brown travels and gives lectures with her daughter, emphasizing that "family life actually enriches one's activities."
Experts predict that the choices of conservative-leaning women could have long-term effects on the labor market and cultural norms. However, some note that it is difficult to apply this model as is in households with fragile income structures or in inflexible job environments.