Caroline Downey

When plummeting birth rates, rising living costs, and shifting cultural norms reorient how young adults view family planning, demographic polling reveals stark divides in who still desires marriage and children. Caroline Downey breaks down the latest data on Gen Z's attitudes toward parenthood, analyzing which specific demographic, political, and religious groups continue to dream of raising a family versus those abandoning traditional family formation altogether. Unpacking the impact of careerism, climate doomism, economic anxiety, and secularization on fertility trends, Caroline examines how ideological divides are reshaping America's future pipeline of parenthood. What do these widening demographic splits reveal about the future of family structure, population decline, and the cultural landscape in the United States? Watch Caroline’s full analysis, leave your thoughts below, and subscribe to National Review!