Rachel Wiseman

Anastasia Berg and Rachel Wiseman, co-authors of 'What Are Children For?', delve into the dramatic cultural shifts impacting America’s declining birth rate. They discuss the rise of 'parenthood ambivalence' and how changing attitudes towards dating and family planning reveal a disconnect in modern relationships. With insights on feminism, environmental concerns, and evolving gender roles, they challenge traditional views on parenting, urging a reflection on what family means in today's world. Their analysis opens a dialogue about the emotional complexities of modern parenthood.

Authors Anastasia Berg and Rachel Wiseman discuss their new book 'What are Children For?' exploring topics like declining birth rates in the US, delay of parenthood by middle-class women, ambivalent mother narratives, and eco-apocalypse fiction. They delve into societal pressures, relationship dynamics, and ethical dilemmas surrounding parenthood amidst climate crisis. The conversation also touches on changing family dynamics in TV shows and societal perceptions of motherhood.

Anastasia Berg, a philosopher and professor at UC Irvine, and Rachel Wiseman, managing editor for The Point, delve into profound questions about parenthood and declining fertility. They discuss societal pressures and individual choices in child-rearing, emphasizing the challenges posed by factors like economic uncertainty and climate anxiety. The conversation critiques modern narratives around parenthood, exploring millennial perfectionism and ambivalence about having children. With insights from Christine Emba, the dialogue weaves together ethics, societal expectations, and the quest for meaningful family planning.