Natalism

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Uruguayan conservative politician and Catholic activist Juan Zorrilla de San Martin (1855-1931), surrounded by his family. Twice married, he fathered 16 children during his life. Juan Zorrilla de San Martin7.jpg
Uruguayan conservative politician and Catholic activist Juan Zorrilla de San Martín (1855–1931), surrounded by his family. Twice married, he fathered 16 children during his life.

Natalism (also called pronatalism or the pro-birth position) is a policy paradigm or personal value that promotes the reproduction of human life as an important objective of humanity and therefore advocates high birthrate. [1]

Contents

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the term, as it relates to the belief itself, dates from 1971 and comes from French : nataliste, formed from French : natalité, birthrate. [2]

Just like there seems to be an almost universal population decline associated with cultural modernization, attempts at a political response are also growing. According to the UN, the share of countries with pronatalist policies had grown from 20% in 2005 to 28% in 2019. [3]

Motives

Generally, natalism promotes child-bearing and parenthood as desirable for social reasons and to ensure the continuance of humanity. Some philosophers have noted that if humans fail to have children, humans would become extinct. [4] [5]

Religion

Many religions encourage procreation, and religiousness in members can sometimes correlate to higher rates of fertility. [6] Judaism, [7] Islam, and major branches of Christianity, including the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints [8] and the Catholic Church, [9] [10] [11] [12] encourage procreation. In 1979 one research paper indicated that Amish people had an average of 6.8 children per family. [13] Among some conservative Protestants, the Quiverfull movement advocates for large families and views children as blessings from God. [14] [15] [16]

Those who adhere to a more traditionalist framing may therefore seek to limit access to abortion and contraception, as well. [17] The 1968 encyclical Humanae Vitae e.g. criticized artificial contraception and advocated for a natalist position. [18]

Politics

Beginning around the early 2020s, the threat of "global demographic collapse" began to become a cause célèbre among wealthy tech and venture-capitalist circles [19] [20] as well as the political right. [20] [21] In Europe, Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán has made natalism a key plank of his political platform. [20] In the United States, key figures include Kevin Dolan, organizer of the Natal Conference, [22] [21] [23] Simone and Malcolm Collins, founders of Pronatalist.org, [19] [24] [22] and Elon Musk, who has repeatedly used his public platform to discuss global birth rates. [19] [20]

The right-wing proponents of pronatalism argue that falling birthrates could lead to economic stagnation, diminished innovation, and an unsustainable burden on social systems due to an aging population. [24] The movement suggests that without a significant increase in birth rates, the sustainability of civilizations could be in danger; Elon Musk has called it a "much bigger risk" than global warming. [25] [19]

Intention to have children

An intention to have children is a substantial fertility factor in actually ending up doing so, but childless individuals who intend to have children immediately or within two or three years are generally more likely to succeed than those who intend to have children in the long term. [26] There are many determinants of the intention to have children, including:

Concrete policies

Natalism in public policy typically seeks to create financial and social incentives for populations to reproduce, such as providing tax incentives that reward having and supporting children. [29]

Some countries with population decline offer incentives to the people to have large families as a means of national efforts to reverse declining populations. Incentives may include a one-time baby bonus, or ongoing child benefit payments or tax reductions. Some impose penalties or taxes on those with fewer children. [37] [28] Some nations, such as Japan, [38] Singapore, [39] and South Korea, [40] have implemented, or tried to implement, interventionist natalist policies, creating incentives for larger families among native stock.

Paid maternity and paternity leave policies can also be used as an incentive. For example, Sweden has generous parental leave wherein parents are entitled to share 16 months' paid leave per child, the cost divided between both employer and state. However, it appears not to work as desired. [41] [42]

Postcommunist

Parking place for families with children, residential area. Tomaszow Mazowiecki, Poland Miejsce parkingowe dla rodzin z dziecmi na osiedlu Hubala I zarzadzanym przez SM ,,Przodownik" w Tomaszowie Mazowieckim, w wojewodztwie lodzkim.jpg
Parking place for families with children, residential area. Tomaszów Mazowiecki, Poland

Russia

Natalist thinking was common during Soviet times. After a brief adherence to the strict Communist doctrine in 1920s and attempts to raise children communally, coupled with the government-provided healthcare, the Soviet government switched to neo-traditionalism, promoting family values and sobriety, banning abortions and making divorces harder to obtain, advancing natalist ideals that made mockery of irresponsible parents. The expanded opportunities for female employment caused a population crisis in the 1930s, government had expanded access to child care starting at the age of two. [43] After the Great Patriotic war the skewed ratio of men to women prompted additional financial assistance to women that had children or were pregnant. Despite the promotion and long maternity leave with maintenance of employment and salary, modernization still caused birthrates to continue to slide into the 1970s. [44]

The end of the USSR in 1991 was accompanied by a large drop in fertility. [44] In 2006, Vladimir Putin made demographics an important issue, [45] instituting a two-pronged approach of direct financial rewards and socio-cultural policies. The notable example of the former is the maternal-capital program where the woman is provided with subsidies that can be spent only on improved housing or the education of a child (and can also be saved for the retirement). [46]

Hungary

The Hungarian government of Viktor Orbán in 2019 announced pecuniary incentives (including eliminating taxes for mothers with more than three children, and reducing credit payments and easier access to loans), and expanding day care and kindergarten access. [47]

Critics

Natalism has been criticized on human-rights and environmental grounds. Most antinatalists, malthusians, reproductive rights advocates and environmentalists see natalism as a driver of reproductive injustice, population growth, and ecological overshoot. [34] [29] [37] [28] [48] [31] In politics, journalists have linked the pronatalist movement with far-right eugenics. [49] [21]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Human population planning</span> Practice of controlling rate of growth

Human population planning is the practice of managing the growth rate of a human population. The practice, traditionally referred to as population control, had historically been implemented mainly with the goal of increasing population growth, though from the 1950s to the 1980s, concerns about overpopulation and its effects on poverty, the environment and political stability led to efforts to reduce population growth rates in many countries. More recently, however, several countries such as China, Japan, South Korea, Russia, Iran, Italy, Spain, Finland, Hungary and Estonia have begun efforts to boost birth rates once again, generally as a response to looming demographic crises.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Family planning</span> Planning when to have children

Family planning is the consideration of the number of children a person wishes to have, including the choice to have no children, and the age at which they wish to have them. Things that may play a role on family planning decisions include marital situation, career or work considerations, financial situations. If sexually active, family planning may involve the use of contraception and other techniques to control the timing of reproduction.

A baby boom is a period marked by a significant increase of births. This demographic phenomenon is usually ascribed within certain geographical bounds of defined national and cultural populations. The cause of baby booms involves various fertility factors. The best-known baby boom occurred in the mid-twentieth century, sometimes considered to have started after the end of the Second World War, sometimes from the late 1945s, and ending in the 1960s. People born during this period are often called baby boomers.

Fertility in colloquial terms refers the ability to have offspring. In demographic contexts, fertility refers to the actual production of offspring, rather than the physical capability to reproduce, which is termed fecundity. The fertility rate is the average number of children born during an individual's lifetime. In medicine, fertility refers to the ability to have children, and infertility refers to difficulty in reproducing naturally. In general, infertility or subfertility in humans is defined as not being able to conceive a child after one year of unprotected sex. The antithesis of fertility is infertility, while the antithesis of fecundity is sterility.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Birth rate</span> Total number of live births per 1,000 divided by time period

Birth rate, also known as natality, is the total number of live human births per 1,000 population for a given period divided by the length of the period in years. The number of live births is normally taken from a universal registration system for births; population counts from a census, and estimation through specialized demographic techniques. The birth rate is used to calculate population growth. The estimated average population may be taken as the mid-year population.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Total fertility rate</span> Number of children a woman is expected to have barring select circumstances

The total fertility rate (TFR) of a population is the average number of children that are born to a woman over her lifetime, if they were to experience the exact current age-specific fertility rates (ASFRs) through their lifetime, and they were to live from birth until the end of their reproductive life.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sub-replacement fertility</span> Total fertility rate that (if sustained) leads to each new generation being less populous

Sub-replacement fertility is a total fertility rate (TFR) that leads to each new generation being less populous than the older, previous one in a given area. The United Nations Population Division defines sub-replacement fertility as any rate below approximately 2.1 children born per woman of childbearing age, but the threshold can be as high as 3.4 in some developing countries because of higher mortality rates. Taken globally, the total fertility rate at replacement was 2.33 children per woman in 2003. This can be "translated" as 2 children per woman to replace the parents, plus a "third of a child" to make up for the higher probability of males born and mortality prior to the end of a person's fertile life. In 2020, the global average fertility rate was around 2.4 children born per woman.

Childlessness is the state of not having children. Childlessness may have personal, social or political significance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mid-20th century baby boom</span> Baby boom that occurred after World War II

The middle of the 20th century was marked by a significant and persistent increase in fertility rates in many countries of the world, especially in the Western world. The term baby boom is often used to refer to this particular boom, generally considered to have started immediately after World War II, although some demographers place it earlier or during the war. This terminology led to those born during this baby boom being nicknamed the baby boomer generation.

A two-child policy is a government-imposed limit of two children allowed per family or the payment of government subsidies only to the first two children.

The tax on childlessness was a natalist policy imposed in the Soviet Union and other Communist countries, starting in the 1940s. Joseph Stalin's regime created the tax in order to encourage adult people to reproduce, thus increasing the number of people and the population of the Soviet Union. The 6% income tax affected men from the age of 25 to 50, and married women from 20 to 45 years of age.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Population planning in Singapore</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bachelor tax</span> Punitive tax imposed on unmarried men

A bachelor tax is a punitive tax imposed on unmarried men. In the modern era, many countries do vary tax rates by marital status, so current references to bachelor taxes are typically implicit rather than explicit; and given the state of tax law is very complicated, as tax accountancy concepts like income splitting can come into play.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Family planning policies of China</span> Population planning policy of China

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aging of South Korea</span> Overview of aging in South Korea

In South Korea, aging refers to an increase in the proportion of senior citizens to the total population. The term "senior citizens" include those aged 65 or older. According to Article 3 no.1 of the Framework Act on Low Birthrate of an Aging Society, the term "aging population" refers to the increasing proportion of elderly people in the entire population.

4B is a feminist movement which is purported to have originated in South Korea in 2015. Its proponents refuse to date men, get married, have sex with men, or have children.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Three-child policy</span> Population-control policy in China

The three-child policy, whereby a couple can have three children, is a family planning policy in the People's Republic of China. The policy was announced on 31 May 2021 at a meeting of the Politburo of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), chaired by CCP General Secretary Xi Jinping, on population aging.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aging of the United States</span> Ongoing demographic trend

In recent decades, the fertility rate of the United States has declined below replacement level, prompting projections of an aging population and workforce, as is already happening elsewhere in the developed world and some developing countries. The decline has been most noticeable since after the Great Recession of the late 2000s. Nevertheless, the rate of aging in the United States remains slower than that seen in many other countries, including some developing ones, giving the nation a significant competitive advantage. Unintentional pregnancies have become less common; in particular, teenage pregnancies have dropped to record lows.

Population Balance is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in the United States that raises awareness of the connections between pronatalism, human supremacy, social inequalities, and ecological overshoot, and advocates for solutions to address their combined impacts on the planet, people, and animals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Simone and Malcolm Collins</span> American pronatalist advocates

Simone Haruko Collins and Malcolm James Collins are a married couple known primarily for their views and advocacy related to pronatalism.

References

  1. ↑ Cf.: McKeown, John (2014). "1: Natalism: A Popular Use of the Bible". God's Babies: Natalism and Bible Interpretation in Modern America. Cambridge: Open Books. p. 2. ISBN   9781783740529 . Retrieved 2018-12-08. Natalism is an ideology that advocates a high birth rate within a community.[...] The central message is that parents should have additional children.
  2. ↑ "natalism". Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary . Merriam-Webster.
  3. ↑ "The new economics of fertility". Economist: 65. September 17, 2022.
  4. ↑ Anthony, Andrew (2023-07-22). "'What if everybody decided not to have children?' The philosopher questioning humanity's future". The Observer. ISSN   0029-7712 . Retrieved 2024-02-06.
  5. ↑ Arand, Dustin (2022-11-29). "The Very Nice People Who Want Humanity to Go Extinct". Politically Speaking. Retrieved 2024-02-06.
  6. ↑ "Do Muslims Have More Children Than Other Women in Western Europe? – Population Reference Bureau" . Retrieved 2023-12-12. Women who report firm adherence to their religious beliefs and practices tend to have higher fertility than less religious women, whether Christian or Muslim. But religiousness does not always mean higher fertility. [...] The study confirms the perception that Muslim women have more children than non-Muslims in Western Europe, but shows that the gap is not as large as many believe. And, similar to other immigrants in other countries, Muslim fertility rates tend to fall over time, narrowing the gap with the non-Muslims who make up the vast majority of the European population now, and for the foreseeable future.
  7. ↑ "Mishnah Yevamot 6;6". Sefaria . Retrieved 2019-06-20.
  8. ↑ First Presidency and Council of the Twelve Apostles (September 23, 1995), "Gospel Topics – The Family: A Proclamation to the World", LDS.org, LDS Church, retrieved 2013-12-11. See also: The Family: A Proclamation to the World
  9. ↑ Pope Paul VI (1968-07-25). "Humanae Vitae: Encyclical on the Regulation of Birth". Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana . Retrieved 2008-11-12.
  10. ↑ Pope Pius XI (1930-12-31). "Casti Connubii: Encyclical on Christian Marriage". Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana . Retrieved 2008-11-12.
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  23. ↑ "Home". Natal Conference. Retrieved 2024-04-30.
  24. 1 2 Dodds, Io (2023-04-17). "Meet the 'elite' couples breeding to save mankind". The Telegraph. ISSN   0307-1235 . Retrieved 2024-04-30.
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  27. ↑ Axinn, William G.; Clarkberg, Marin E.; Thornton, Arland (1994). "Family Influences on Family Size Preferences". Demography. 31 (1): 65–79. doi: 10.2307/2061908 . ISSN   0070-3370. JSTOR   2061908. PMID   8005343.
  28. 1 2 3 4 Carroll, Laura (2012-05-17). The Baby Matrix: Why Freeing Our Minds From Outmoded Thinking About Parenthood & Reproduction Will Create a Better World. United States: LiveTrue Books. ISBN   978-0615642994.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
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  32. ↑ Neal, Zachary P.; Neal, Jennifer Watling (2023-09-04). "A Framework for Studying Adults who Neither have Nor Want Children". The Family Journal. 32 (1): 121–130. doi:10.1177/10664807231198869. ISSN   1066-4807 – via Sage Journals.
  33. ↑ Dildar, Yasemin (2022-02-23). "The Effect of Pronatalist Rhetoric on Women's Fertility Preferences in Turkey". Population and Development Review. 48 (2): 579–612. doi:10.1111/padr.12466. ISSN   0098-7921 – via Wiley.
  34. 1 2 Merz, Joseph J; Barnard, Phoebe; Rees, William E; Smith, Dane; Maroni, Mat; Rhodes, Christopher J; Dederer, Julia H; Bajaj, Nandita; Joy, Michael K; Wiedmann, Thomas; Sutherland, Rory (2023-09-20). "World scientists' warning: The behavioural crisis driving ecological overshoot". Science Progress. 106 (3). doi:10.1177/00368504231201372. ISSN   0036-8504. PMC   10515534 . PMID   37728669.
  35. ↑ Dierickx, Susan; Rahbari, Ladan; Longman, Chia; Jaiteh, Fatou; Coene, Gily (2018-09-12). "'I am always crying on the inside': a qualitative study on the implications of infertility on women's lives in urban Gambia". Reproductive Health. 15 (1): 151. doi: 10.1186/s12978-018-0596-2 . ISSN   1742-4755. PMC   6134751 . PMID   30208896.
  36. ↑ Vignoli, Daniele; Rinesi, Francesca; Mussino, Eleonora (2013). "A home to plan the first child? Fertility intentions and housing conditions in Italy" (PDF). Population, Space and Place. 19: 60–71. doi:10.1002/psp.1716. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-07-22. Retrieved 2019-01-31.
  37. 1 2 Bajaj, Nandita (2023-02-28). "Coercive Pro-Birth Policies Have Devastating Impacts on People and the Planet". Newsweek. Retrieved 2024-04-18.
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  40. ↑ Onishi, Norimitsu (21 August 2005). "South Korea, in Turnabout, Now Calls for More Babies". The New York Times . Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  41. ↑ Brown, Elizabeth Nolan (2023-05-02). "Storks don't take orders from the state". Reason.com. Retrieved 2024-03-20.
  42. ↑ Björklund, Anders (2007). "Does a Family-Friendly Policy Raise Fertility Levels?". Swedish Institute for European Policy Studies. 3.
  43. ↑ Kouprianova 2013, p. 152.
  44. 1 2 Kouprianova 2013, p. 153.
  45. ↑ Kouprianova 2013, p. 157.
  46. ↑ Kouprianova 2013, p. 158.
  47. ↑ Kingsley, Patrick (2019-02-11). "Orban Encourages Mothers in Hungary to Have 4 or More Babies". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331. Archived from the original on February 12, 2019. Retrieved 2019-03-13.
  48. ↑ "Judith Blake on Fertility Control and the Problem of Voluntarism". Population and Development Review. 20 (1): 167–177. 1994. doi:10.2307/2137635. ISSN   0098-7921. JSTOR   2137635.
  49. ↑ Slawson, Nicola (2023-09-04). "First Thing: US pro-birth conference's links to far-right eugenicists revealed". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 2024-04-30.

Sources

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