What JD Vance Got Wrong About "Childless Cat Ladies"

Vice Presidential nominee JD Vance made headlines this week after a 2021 interview with Tucker Carlson resurfaced in which he claimed that the Democratic Party was run by “childless cat ladies who are miserable at their own lives and the choices that they’ve made.” He singled out prominent Democrats like Kamala Harris, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Pete Buttigieg, suggesting in a more recent interview that their lack of biological children makes them "anti-family" and "anti-child." Commenters across the internet and media have criticized these remarks, with even some fellow Republicans noting that such comments could harm Donald Trump’s chances in the upcoming presidential election.

Vance's comments don’t hold up to scrutiny. Prominent Republican members of Congress, such as Lindsey Graham and Susan Collins, also don’t have children, yet Vance has continued to defend his comments, suggesting that only those with children have a direct stake in the country's future.

Do Republicans Really Have More Children?

Republican members of Congress do seem to have more children than their Democratic counterparts, averaging 2.7 children compared to 1.8 among Democrats. However, several factors contribute to these numbers. For instance, there are fewer Republican women in Congress than Democratic women, and women in demanding careers often have fewer children because child-rearing responsibilities still predominantly fall on them. A 2019 study found that parenthood is associated with greater well-being for fathers than mothers.

When we look at the number of children that Republican women in Congress have, it drops to 2.25. Among Republican women in Congress who are 45 years old or younger, the average number of children is lower: 1.3. These statistics suggest that the number of children legislators have may reflect broader societal trends and personal choices rather than strict party lines.

Why People Aren't Having Kids

Today, there is less stigma attached to not having children. A Pew Research Center study that came out this month found that the top reasons young adults choose not to have kids include:

• Not wanting to (57 percent)
• Focusing on career (44 percent)
• Concerns about the state of the world (38 percent)
• Financial constraints (36 percent)
• Environmental concerns (26 percent)

These reasons reflect a mix of personal preference and anxiety about broader issues like climate change and affordability. If Vance and other Republicans are concerned about declining birth rates, they could advocate for policies that address these concerns, such as supporting climate change initiatives and providing more financial support to parents.

Generativity and Relationships

Vance’s claim that people without biological children don’t have a stake in the future is misguided. Developmental psychology introduces the concept of generativity, an essential stage in which adults focus on contributing to the betterment of others, finding that this stage can be fulfilled whether or not someone has biological children.

Kamala Harris, for example, is a step-parent to two adult children, Ella and Cole, whom she helped raise along with her husband, Doug Emhoff, and the children’s biological mother, Kerstin Emhoff. Both Kerstin and Ella have publicly defended Harris’ parenting role, demonstrating that generativity and parental influence can extend beyond strictly biological connections.

Even without children, people can achieve generativity through relationships, community involvement, professional achievements, and mentoring. There is no evidence to suggest that having kids is the only or ultimate way to lead a meaningful life.

I’ll agree with Vance on one point, and it’s that at the end of life, relationships are what give us the most meaning and happiness. Harvard’s 75-year study of health and happiness has shown that supportive relationships are the most instrumental to our well-being. While a biological family can be a rich source of connection, however, it is not the only possible source. Friends, community, chosen family, and pets can also provide companionship and support, meeting our needs and nourishing our human need for connection in deeply satisfying ways.

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Conclusion

JD Vance’s comments on childless adults miss the mark by failing to recognize the diverse ways people find meaning and fulfillment. Both Republicans and Democrats can advocate for family-friendly policies that address the real concerns of the next generation. Ultimately, meaningful relationships—and contributing to the benefit of these relationships—whether with family, friends, or community, are what bring us the most happiness and satisfaction in life.