The New Female Narrative: Late Maternity, Abortion, and the Choice to Be Child-Free
You may wonder: why is it that when a man becomes a parent in his 50s or 60s, nobody bats an eye, but if a woman considers having kids “late,” she faces a million side glances? Late motherhood is what we tackled in our latest Let’s Talk ROLLOS episode, “The New Female Narrative: Late Maternity, Abortion, and the Choice to Be Child-Free.”
Ana and Fer sat down and had a deep conversation, Fer debating between the two: Do I want to be a mom? Do I want it now or never? What about those of those who know the clock is ticking—biologically, socially—and still choose to wait or skip motherhood entirely? They also unpacked abortion in all its complexity, and the growing space for women who decide child-free is their path—and how society reacts when they make those choices.
Delaying Motherhood, Waiting, or Choosing to Stay Child-Free
One of the first things Ana and Fer discussed is how common it’s becoming for women to delay getting pregnant—or to decide not to at all. It’s not just about biology; it’s about education, career, finances, and personal choice.
Here’s what the data says:
The rate of advanced maternal age (women having their first child at 35 or older) has risen significantly over the past decade.
The general fertility rate in the U.S. declined by about 3% from 2022 to 2023, marking a continuation of a downward trend.
According to Pew Research, the share of adults 18 to 49 who say they don’t want children has grown from 37% in 2018 to 47% more recently.
Around 21.64 % of adults are estimated to be child-free by choice, deciding early in life that they didn't want children.
In the episode, they talked about how pressure creeps in—from family, friends, social media, and even our own internal expectations. It’s not always about whether they can have children later; often it’s whether they want to.
Abortion, Choice, and the Freedom to Decide
In the conversation, Ana and Fer didn’t stay shy on their opinion about abortion.
Ana shares her strong belief that abortion is a cruel and selfish act. For her, it’s not just about a woman’s body anymore — once a new life is forming, there’s another little person involved, someone with rights of their own. She emphasizes that many women are simply afraid of becoming mothers, but fear alone shouldn’t justify ending a life. Drawing from her own experience, Ana opens up about how motherhood showed her she was stronger than she ever imagined. Even during extremely difficult moments — situations that others might have seen as the “perfect excuse” for an abortion — she never considered it an option. Today, she feels incredibly proud of her courage, and says her child is her greatest source of joy. Ana also questions the issue of sexual irresponsibility and criticizes how, for some, abortion has become a form of birth control.
She further challenges the argument that abortion is necessary because many cases are women victims of rape, pointing out that these situations represent only about 1% of all abortion cases. “What about the other 99%?” she asks, urging society to reflect more deeply on why so many pregnancies are being terminated, and whether fear or convenience have become normalized reasons to end a potential life.
Fer, on the other hand, firmly believes that every woman has her own story — one we should never judge from the outside. For her, the right to choose is fundamental, especially when a woman isn’t emotionally or financially prepared to raise a child. “It’s your body, your decision,” she says, emphasizing that motherhood should never be forced or guilted into. Reflecting on her own life, Fer admits that if she had gotten pregnant at 21, “there was no way I was going to be able to be a good mom.” In her view, choosing when — or if — to become a parent is part of the broader issue of bodily autonomy and self-determination. Also, Fer argues that it’s not about being “anti-life,” but about protecting a woman’s ability to decide what’s best for herself, her future, and any potential child. She believes this decision should come without shame or external pressure.
76% of adults under 30 believe abortion should be legal in all or most cases, showing a shift in how society views this complex issue. While Ana and Fer may see things through very different lenses, their open dialogue on the podcast brings nuance and humanity to a conversation that is often polarized.
So whether you already decided your path, are still exploring, or feel pressured from every corner—this conversation is for you. Because every narrative deserves respect. Every voice matters. We want to hear from you. Share your story or opinion in the comments, and don’t forget to subscribe to Let’s Talk ROLLOS on your favorite podcast platform — new episodes every week with real talk, real contrast, and real rollos.