We found that almost all the women we interviewed wanted to have children. Only 20 (less than 4 per cent) had decided they definitely did not want to have children. However, many of the women (80 per cent) had fewer children than they desired. The women were still of reproductive age but when asked if they were likely to have children in the future, more than half (54 per cent) said this was unlikely because of circumstances often beyond their control. We learnt the women had not lost the desire to have children, but that they faced serious barriers to motherhood. Those who did not have a child said the main reason was not having a partner, or being unable to find a partner willing to commit to fatherhood. Very few women wanted to have a child while single. One 30-year-old participant stated: "At this point in time I cannot even consider having children. I don't have a partner, but if I had I would wish for a stable [relationship] that had lasted a couple of years before I considered children."

Women with partners also reported that a main barrier was their partner's reluctance to have a child, or another child. Some said that disagreement over childbearing threatened their relationships, and that they avoided talking about wanting children in case their partners left. The second reason was the burden of higher-education debts. These imposed a particular barrier to securing housing, because couples were finding it difficult to pay debts that each had incurred in gaining their qualifications, at the same time as meeting the requirements of a mortgage. Many said it was difficult to contemplate even a short period on a single income, in particular because in a casualised workforce most women (at the time this study was undertaken) were not entitled to paid maternity leave. The lack of secure accommodation was also a barrier to contemplating having a child, with many childless women saying they did not feel able to have a baby until they had suitable housing in which to raise a family. The third barrier was health-related concerns, including their own or their partner's fertility difficulties, not wanting to pass on a genetic condition to a child, taking medication that could harm a foetus, or fearing that pregnancy would worsen an existing health condition. Of the women in the sample who had children or were pregnant, 84 per cent said good health was important in having a first child, and 87 per cent said good health was important in having subsequent children.

Women with better mental and physical health were significantly more likely to think they would have children in the future. These findings indicate that, contrary to suggestions that women make independent decisions that are informed only by personal interests, their childbearing desires and outcomes are strongly governed by their social circumstances. Although women in Australia want to have children, they often have fewer children than they desire, and many would have children, or more children, if their circumstances were different. This suggests that women are not able to choose when and if they have a child, or how many children they have. One 34-year-old survey participant said: "Circumstances are the only reason that I don't have children - I want them desperately and always have.''

Our research suggests that the selfish, career-focused woman who chooses not to have children or delays childbearing is a myth. Women are not helped by the accusations that have been directed at them in recent weeks. Women would benefit from public policies that are more sensitive to and address the barriers they face in having children. In addition to the welcome recent improvements in maternity benefits, such sensitive public policies could include education for men about female fertility and the risks to their partner's health of postponing childbearing. Other initiatives could include flexible repayment options to permit suspension of higher-education debts while women provide unpaid care for dependent young children, and maximising housing affordability. Dr Sara Holton, Professor Jane Fisher and Dr Heather Rowe are attached to the Jean Hailes research unit, school of public health and preventive medicine, Monash University.

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