I would love to see some sources for your claim that "the view that a successful relationship necessarily involves children is still quite current" and that "it is the overwhelming consensus."

Anecdotally, in my environment you would be hard pressed to find someone who thinks children are required for a relationship to be successful. Many people _want_ children, but are not deluded enough to believe the entire concept of "a relationship" is a failure without them (nor that it is a success with them).

Thanks in advance for any sources you can point me to.