Young women in many countries are choosing a future without children. The scope of decline in fertility rates among developed nations is described along with public policy efforts intended to reverse the course of population change. The initiatives commonly used to persuade women that they should become mothers are monetary incentives and suggestions that attainment of personal maturity requires the sacrifices related to parenting. These solutions, devised by middle age and older adults, rarely include intergenerational dialogue that recognizes the goals of young women in the current environment or explores what could be done to make parenthood an appealing role. Hierarchical societies seeking to preserve harmony have the greatest obstacles to surmount, and require awareness among generations to identify differences in motivation and perspective. Concerns of American college women regarding parenthood and implications are described that should be taken into consideration by families, educational institutions, media, local agencies, and religious organizations.