Number of Childless Women Up

In America, one out of every five women in her 40s does not have a biological child. According to a surprising new report, this number has increased drastically since the 1970s. The Washington Post's Donna St. George reports:

Although the trend largely held true across races, ethnicities and education levels, one exception was among women with advanced degrees -- a master's or higher -- who were more likely to give birth. The Pew report shows that the shift was opposite for women with less than a high school diploma. In 1994, 9 percent of that group was childless. The number of women without biological children is much larger than it once was, with 1.9 million childless women in 2008, compared with 580,000 in 1976.

The report was released by the Pew Research Center.  The causes for this increase could be economical and social. Women have better job opportunities then they did before and an increased number of contraceptive measures. Women with an elevated social status may be able to afford fertility drugs and be better equipped monetarily to raise a child, accounting for the higher rate of childbearing among women with higher degrees. For more stats click here.

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