Pro-natalism, a belief in increasing birth rates, is facing several difficulties, most of which stem from its own behavior. This point of view, which supports more births in a society, has significant challenges that limit its development and impact.
The belief that pro-natalism ignores the more general social and environmental effects of population increase is one of the main obstacles preventing its effectiveness. Proponents of greater birth rates contend that they aggravate overcrowding, strain already limited resources, and damage the environment. Population growth is still a global issue that calls for consideration of these legitimate issues, casting doubt on the success of pro-natalism.
Furthermore, challenging pro-natalism’s ability to fit the evolving social and economic scene is Decisions on family planning are much influenced by women’s growing involvement in the workforce and quest for both personal and professional satisfaction. Many women deliberately choose to postpone or avoid having children because they are aggressively seeking jobs and giving other aspects of their lives top priority. Cofounder of Vox Matthew Yglesias says, “It’s very hard to get people to do anything they don’t want to do, and it’s highly unlikely that the government can convince many people to do the extremely personal work of having more children.”
Affordability and financial stability are yet another obstacle to pro-natalism. Many times, raising a kid comes with significant financial responsibilities, including those linked to healthcare, education, and basic needs. For those already having financial problems, especially, the responsibility of raising a kid might be overwhelming. Lancaster University sociologist Emma Paterson emphasizes the need to take financial restrictions into account. She says, “Least likely to be swayed into growing families are those already struggling to make ends meet.”
Apart from these obstacles, pro-natalist beliefs are greatly shaped by cultural elements. Conventional society expectations and standards stress the need for children as a fundamental element of family and society. These values are changing, though, and different points of view on family configurations are starting to show. Author of “Hillbilly Elegy J.D. Vance notes that declining rates of childbearing are the result of dramatic cultural changes over the past 60 years, including changes to family formation, sexual behavior, and women’s roles.”
