I'd add one more perspective re: women making the rational decision to not have kids. For those who would otherwise consider becoming parents, the conditions under which we would have to *raise* children are getting ever more bleak:
- Tech companies make billions of dollars selling smartphones and apps that destroy attention spans and diminish kids' capacity for face-to-face, IRL human connection.
- The "intensive parenting" trend is inescapable, and reduces parents (usually mothers) to round-the-clock optimizers of their children's development.
- Climate change is making summer temperatures uncomfortably (and in some cases, dangerously) hot in many places and intensifying the destructiveness of weather-related natural disasters.
- And our societal refusal to take meaningful action against the pervasive threat of gun violence puts kids in harm's way just for going to school, or Walmart, or to a friend's house where the parents don't responsibly store their firearms.
Obviously there are steps individual families can take to protect their children, but we are collectively making it WAY too hard to raise healthy, capable, empathetic, responsible members of society. I do not envy parents who find themselves navigating these challenges, and my partner and I have opted out.
The worldwide birth rate decline is a legitimate concern, but the way that MAGA is trying to “manage” it is TRULY SCARY. Lots of The Handmaid’s Tales vibes. The birth rate decline doesn’t improve with Trump’s MAGA racist immigration and isolationist policies.
I'm sure the threat of or actually being unceremoniously fired from your job due to DOGE cuts will make people want to have/have more kids. Good plan guys! Although I guess that $5000 one time payment will make up for not being employed 😒
And there are plenty of people in their target demographic who will hear the $5000 thing and think it is the greatest thing ever. Poor people, uneducated people, people for whom $5000 sounds like a huge sum that will change their life.
In Texas. I am afraid to have kids because a deadly pregnancy will be allowed to progress until I'm dead (abortion being completely outlawed here). Luckily I am 46 and pretty much out of the woods. But yeah cannot imagine risking pregnancy here, now.
I have so many feelings about all of this. I am not able to conceive or carry a child due to the life-saving cancer treatment I received in my early 30s. I was able to become a mom through the selflessness and sacrifice of my daughter's birth mother. I know that none of these financial incentives will go to help women in that situation who place their children for adoption, so they will continue to have to scrap by to survive.
It's possible reading this made all my eggs dry up. We thought we'd have kids, but life and health considerations changed our minds. And let's not even talk about what raising a child involves once they are here.
Of course if they actually cared about *birthrates* they would funnel money into the abysmal childcare situation, but that's not the point. They just want to force women to stay home, so no childcare needed! Sigh...
Yes, and Emily! That's why in 2030, 45% of US women might choose to be single. I want to have all the conversations around these topics to work out what is happening vs what should be happening! Truly a Handmade's tale dystopian world atm. Keep writing and shining a light!
I'd add that they have also cancelled numerous federally funded grants related to women's health, reproductive health, and children's health. Research to improve maternal and child health would directly make pregnancy, childbirth, and child rearing safer.
Great analysis, Emily!
I'd add one more perspective re: women making the rational decision to not have kids. For those who would otherwise consider becoming parents, the conditions under which we would have to *raise* children are getting ever more bleak:
- Tech companies make billions of dollars selling smartphones and apps that destroy attention spans and diminish kids' capacity for face-to-face, IRL human connection.
- The "intensive parenting" trend is inescapable, and reduces parents (usually mothers) to round-the-clock optimizers of their children's development.
- Climate change is making summer temperatures uncomfortably (and in some cases, dangerously) hot in many places and intensifying the destructiveness of weather-related natural disasters.
- And our societal refusal to take meaningful action against the pervasive threat of gun violence puts kids in harm's way just for going to school, or Walmart, or to a friend's house where the parents don't responsibly store their firearms.
Obviously there are steps individual families can take to protect their children, but we are collectively making it WAY too hard to raise healthy, capable, empathetic, responsible members of society. I do not envy parents who find themselves navigating these challenges, and my partner and I have opted out.
Musk doesn't even know his Roman history. He's really looking at a cohort of kids, not a legion. Read a damn book, man.
Why does history keep repeating itself: Uber rich and powerful men, always wanting to make women subservient.
The worldwide birth rate decline is a legitimate concern, but the way that MAGA is trying to “manage” it is TRULY SCARY. Lots of The Handmaid’s Tales vibes. The birth rate decline doesn’t improve with Trump’s MAGA racist immigration and isolationist policies.
I'm sure the threat of or actually being unceremoniously fired from your job due to DOGE cuts will make people want to have/have more kids. Good plan guys! Although I guess that $5000 one time payment will make up for not being employed 😒
This administration has shown they just want to control women. It’s so disturbing. Plus $5000 does not go very far.
Jessica Valenti has called it "bro-natalism" and that could not be more disgustingly perfect.
https://open.substack.com/pub/jessica/p/pro-natalism-explainer-bro-natalist?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
And there are plenty of people in their target demographic who will hear the $5000 thing and think it is the greatest thing ever. Poor people, uneducated people, people for whom $5000 sounds like a huge sum that will change their life.
In Texas. I am afraid to have kids because a deadly pregnancy will be allowed to progress until I'm dead (abortion being completely outlawed here). Luckily I am 46 and pretty much out of the woods. But yeah cannot imagine risking pregnancy here, now.
I have so many feelings about all of this. I am not able to conceive or carry a child due to the life-saving cancer treatment I received in my early 30s. I was able to become a mom through the selflessness and sacrifice of my daughter's birth mother. I know that none of these financial incentives will go to help women in that situation who place their children for adoption, so they will continue to have to scrap by to survive.
So well summarized and historically grounded. Thank you!
It's possible reading this made all my eggs dry up. We thought we'd have kids, but life and health considerations changed our minds. And let's not even talk about what raising a child involves once they are here.
I can tell you that the $5,000 baby bonus wouldn’t even cover my out-of-pocket hospital bill from my “very good, employer-funded” insurance.
This is so true!!
Of course if they actually cared about *birthrates* they would funnel money into the abysmal childcare situation, but that's not the point. They just want to force women to stay home, so no childcare needed! Sigh...
Yes, and Emily! That's why in 2030, 45% of US women might choose to be single. I want to have all the conversations around these topics to work out what is happening vs what should be happening! Truly a Handmade's tale dystopian world atm. Keep writing and shining a light!
I'd add that they have also cancelled numerous federally funded grants related to women's health, reproductive health, and children's health. Research to improve maternal and child health would directly make pregnancy, childbirth, and child rearing safer.