This really drives home how toxic and fearful American culture is, compared to other First World nations. We've never been richer, more peaceful or more secure than we are now, but that only seems to have increased our paranoid determination to shelter our kids from all possible dangers or challenges, however unlikely.
How is the United States different from other First World nations? Let's take Germany for example. Compared to the U.S., Germany is very non-diverse. As of 2016, despite some recent large surges of migrants into the country, Germany is 81% German, and 93% white. Another 5% of the country are Turkish/Middle Eastern/North African—also racially white, but usually distinctive enough to be considered "different."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_Germany#cite_ref-Bev%C3%B6lkerung_mit_Migrationshintergrund_-_Ergebnisse_des_Mikrozensus_2016_48-1The U.S. is way more diverse. As of 2015, here's how we shake out: 62% White, 18% Hispanic, 13% Black, 5% Asian, 3% "other."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demography_of_the_United_States#Race_and_ethnicity The current trajectory of the U.S. is yet more diversity, and Whites are projected to lose majority status in the near future.
Unfortunately, racial and ethnic diversity tends to breed mistrust. Don't take my word for it, listen to left-wing sociologist Robert Putnam of Harvard University tell it:
http://archive.boston.com/news/globe/ideas/articles/2007/08/05/the_downside_of_diversity/ I think the increasing diversification of America is one of the leading causes of (but not the only cause of) increased fear and a more pampered childhood that is now typical in the U.S. I also think it is behind the increased germophobia that I've noticed over my lifetime. There are deep evolutionary reactions to being around others from an "outgroup" that a lot people have a hard time shaking. See, e.g.,
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/271212173_Germs_and_the_Out-group_Chronic_and_Situational_Disease_Concerns_Affect_Intergroup_CategorizationWhat Sarah Zaske is pushing in
Achtung Baby, similar to Pamela Drukerman's
Bringing Up Bébé, sounds suspiciously like childhood in the United States during the "Leave it to Beaver" years. In 1960, the U.S. was much less diverse: 85% White, 11% Black, 3% Hispanic, Asian 0.5%. I don't think it's a coincidence, though again, I don't think it's the only cause. A good natural experiment will be to see how European attitudes toward child rearing change, if at all, as those nations are poised to become more diverse.
