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Voluntary Childlessness As Phenomenon of Human Ecology: Is It Social Responsibility Or Personal Interest?

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Voluntary Childlessness As Phenomenon of Human Ecology: Is It Social Responsibility Or Personal Interest? EurAsian Journal of BioSciences Eurasia J Biosci 13, 1607-1612 (2019) Voluntary childlessness as phenomenon of human ecology: is it social responsibility or personal interest? Ida M. Ilina 1*, Nataliya V. Osipova 2, Elena Yu. Mazhuga 3, Aleksei A. Terenichenko 4, Andrey V. Losyakov 5, Natalia V. Antonova 6, Vitaliy D. Melgunov 7 1 Almetyevsk State Oil Institute, Almetyevsk, RUSSIA 2 Gzhel State University, Elektroizolyator, RUSSIA 3 Jewish University, Moscow, RUSSIA 4 Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, Moscow, RUSSIA 5 Plekhanov Russian University of Economics, Moscow, RUSSIA 6 Institute of Legislation and Comparative Law under the Government of the Russian Federation, Moscow, RUSSIA 7 National University of Oil and Gas “Gubkin University” (Gubkin University), Moscow, RUSSIA *Corresponding author: [email protected] Abstract The article considers the direction of human ecology as a complex, studying the issues of population development and human interaction with the environment. The relevance of this article is the need to analyze the phenomenon of childfree, which appeared relatively recently, but quickly spreading across the planet. In less than half a century, this movement has managed to gain immense popularity and gain both staunch supporters and ardent opponents. The aim of the research is to study the process of formation of voluntary childlessness principles among students in modern society. The study is based on qualitative methodology. The leading method to the study of this problem is the method of interview, which allows you to identify the causes of childfree, going deep into childhood. The article deals with theoretical and methodological aspects of the phenomenon of voluntary childlessness as a phenomenon of population ecology. Socio-psychological studies of reproductive behavior transformation in students through the prism of the phenomenon of voluntary childlessness are analyzed. The principles of voluntary childlessness among young people are studied. The analysis of interviews with representatives of childfree is carried out. The novelty and originality of the study lies in the fact that the human ecology is considered in a narrow sense of the term and it is shown that the position of voluntary childlessness among students has its roots deep in childhood. It is shown that the lack of attention, children’s psychological trauma-all this is reflected in the reluctance to have children. The main reasons for adopting childlessness are dislike for children, fear of pregnancy and childbirth, imaginary humanism, fear of responsibility, fear of being a bad parent. It is revealed that in interaction with the environment, informants - women are more likely to look for reasons within themselves, and informants - men talk about objective, usually external, reasons. It is revealed that the main reason for the spread of the phenomenon of childfree is a change in value orientations; psychological and economic failure; careerism; children’s psychological trauma. All informants accept foster parenthood, and do not exclude changing their views in the future. The data obtained in the work can be used in family psychology, human ecology, social psychology, pedagogy, age psychology, sociology, as well as for further theoretical development of this issue. Keywords: human ecology, student youth, childfree, voluntary childlessness Ilina IM, Osipova NV, Mazhuga EYu, Terenichenko AA, Losyakov AV, Antonova NV, Melgunov VD (2019) Voluntary childlessness as phenomenon of human ecology: is it social responsibility or personal interest?. Eurasia J Biosci 13: 1607-1612. © 2019 Ilina et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License. INTRODUCTION Pluralism of opinions and freedom of choice, as well as tolerance in society, are openly promoted. However, if a The ecology of population is part of the social person openly shows that he/she thinks differently from ecology, but at the same time, it is wider, including the the majority, he/she is immediately subjected to ecology of man in the narrow sense of the term (with the misunderstanding and disapproval, and the person is dominant of natural factors) (Prokhorov and Revich labeled. Thus, a person who voluntarily renounced 1992). There are natural, demographic, biomedical, having children is perceived by society rather as a psychological, social and hygienic, behavioral, economic and other features of the environment that Received: August 2019 affect people. Currently, society, as a social factor, Accepted: October 2019 carries out quite a strong pressure on the person. Printed: November 2019 1607 EurAsian Journal of BioSciences 13: 1607-1612 (2019) Ilina et al. deviant in the conditions of social installation on child- biosocial, and social (Arkhangelsky 2005, Borisov 2005, centrism (Bicharova 2013, Kazachikhina 2014, Medkov Ikonnikova 2012, Orlova and Petrovskaya 2013). 2008, Sakhanskaya 2012, Zbarskaya 2004). At different A number of authors understand the need for times some people, for various reasons refused to children as a property (state) of the individual to have continue procreation for several reasons: religious, trouble as a person without the presence of children or ideological, etc. Almost in any religious community, their appropriate number. The need for children is a there is the phenomenon of monasticism or asceticism program of reproductive behavior aimed at obtaining (Kapitsa 2006, Kashina and Yukina 2009, Parsons different types of reproductive resources. 1998, Sangadzhiev et al. 2013, Shtompka 1996, 2005, In their works, modern scholars describe the mutual Vivere 1999). Monks voluntarily deprived themselves of influence of parental instincts and voluntary all worldly pleasures, including family and sexual life, childlessness. A person can up bring and curb instinctive and, as a consequence, procreation. Voluntary aspirations, guided by higher values, through exercise childlessness is an extremely urgent problem today, due he/she is able to develop behavioral skills that rise above to the spread of this phenomenon against the purely instinctive actions. Ten years ago, voluntarily background of low reproduction rates of the population. childless in Russia was not studied, so it is difficult to say Modern scientists are interested in the topic of voluntary how much has changed their number compared to childlessness no less than researchers of the past are. previous years. Nevertheless, according to the census, Thus, Il’yasov (2016) considers the phenomenon of the proportion of childless women aged 40-49 years has childfree through the prism of reproductive behavior. increased significantly over the past ten years. We can Initially, the term reproductive behavior was taken from assume that this is partly provided by the growing biology, where it refers to all behavior aimed at number of childfree. reproduction of the population. It appears that such Today, people refuse to have children for various widespread ontological understanding is applicable in reasons. Someone simply does not like children, is psychology and in sociology. Reproductive behavior is disgusted with infancy; someone has such a lifestyle and the behavior of the subject aimed at biological rhythm that the child simply does not fit into it. (physiological), psychological and social reproduction of Sometimes a person is too selfish to spend time and the population. It is clear that an individual, and the resources on a child. There are also such global reasons family, social group, society as a whole can be as imperfection of the world order or overpopulation of considered as a subject of reproductive behavior. In a the Earth. The reasons and motives can be many, for narrower sense, Il’yasov (2016) describes reproductive each person they are different. However, most of the behavior as “a system of actions and relationships that childfree have one thing in common - voluntary mediate the birth or refusal to give birth to a child of any childlessness in the name of personal freedom. order, in or out of marriage”. The burden of society on a person forces him/her to Reproductive behavior is expressed through a defend his/her position. It is especially difficult for system of reproductive attitudes, a set of women in this regard. Society is more loyal to men in this representations and moods of the subject, indicating its regard - as the main purpose, the society prescribes a readiness (predisposition) to implement certain types of man to achieve material well-being. It is believed that a reproductive behavior. Within the views attitudes contain man should first think about his career. With women, the motifs of reproductive behavior, specifically, motivation situation is different. Almost from the moment of coming or motives, declared causes, which impel the subject to of age, friends, relatives, others begin to overwhelm the commit certain types of reproductive behavior (including woman with questions such as “When will you give the regulation of childbearing and failure from birth of birth?” In society, it is believed that a woman a priori children). Such a reason is the desire of the subject to should want children that this is her main purpose and obtain resources, benefits (physiological, moral, this is her self-realization. Most people do not even admit psychological, social) associated with various types of the idea that a woman may not have the desire to give sex-reproductive behavior or rejection of them (Alisov
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