Not Right Now - Men’s Emotional Reflexivity and Future Engagement Regarding Children in Late Modernity’s Acceleration
Abstract
In Sweden, just like in other European countries, fertility rates have declined, and an increasing number of men are childless at older ages. The increasing risk of childlessness has been argued to be due to the postponement of family formation because of the ‘waiting game’. The purpose of this study is to explore how childless young heterosexual men reflect on having children in the future and how emotions influence their reflexivity about children in the future. The study is based on interviews with nine men, aged 24-31, five who are in relationships, and four who are single. The results indicate that most men desire children, but not right now, as they fear a loss of freedom to explore their current life. The men also display emotions of optimism that family life will come about at a later stage, making it possible for them to remain in their current exploration. The men’s current trajectory of exploration could be conflicting with their naturalized plan of family life, but it is the optimism that makes the action make sense on both. As they shape their life in response to the emotions of fear and optimism, the men display emotional reflexivity. This desire to continue to engage with the future in the regime of exploration is connected to the promise of the social acceleration, that one can have increasing experiences and life projects within one life span. By adding the temporal perspective with emotional reflexivity and how this is connected to the promise of the social acceleration, this study furthers the understanding of the ‘waiting game’.
Degree
Student essay
View/ Open
Date
2023-08-29Author
Jonsson, Andreas
Keywords
young men, childless, emotional reflexivity, late modernity, social acceleration, future coordination
Language
eng