Advocacy for More Births: Delving Deeper, Some Supporters Simply Express a Desire for Increased Offspring Numbers

In a growing global trend, fertility rates are declining below the replacement rate of 2.1 children per woman in various countries such as India, the Philippines, South Korea, and the United States. This demographic shift has sparked a debate on pronatalism, the belief that it's important to have children to increase a country's population.

Pronatalism, however, is facing challenges from ideological forces. Some elements of the movement have been criticised for being colonized by racists and eugenicists, raising concerns about the motives behind the push for higher birth rates.

The concerns surrounding low birth rates are not unfounded. Demographic challenges such as an ageing population and a shrinking workforce can put pressure on economies and social systems like pensions. Financial insecurity, lack of housing, and insufficient family support further discourage having children, making it harder to sustain population levels.

Economic or structural pronatalism views low fertility as a problem because babies are useful for maintaining social security, economic growth, innovation, military service, and labour force. On the other hand, communitarian pronatalism is concerned about the threat low fertility poses to the existence of communities considered intrinsically valuable, ranging from family lineage to ideologies of white superiority. Individualist pronatalism, meanwhile, sees low fertility as a problem because people want more children than they're having, and systematically not having the families they want is intrinsically bad.

Notable figures such as Elon Musk, a tech industrialist and well-known pronatalist, have expressed concern about the declining birth rate. Musk stated that civilization will disappear if the trend continues.

Despite these concerns, there are those who argue that discussing the birth rate could lead to forced pregnancies and infringement on women's rights. Patrick Brown, a fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center in Washington, notes that the myth of overpopulation still lingers in discussions about pronatalism. Brown also mentions that public opinion polling shows almost as many Americans think the world has too many babies as those who think there will be a future where there are not enough.

Some solutions to the declining birth rate have been proposed. Lyman Stone, senior fellow and director of the Pronatalism Initiative at the Institute for Family Studies, defines pronatalism as the belief that it's not great that fertility is so low. Stone suggests that families, who believe in the sanctity of life and the family, could do more to improve the declining birth rate. Kody W. Cooper, an associate professor, agrees, stating that many families do not live pronatally, with as many as 90% of regular Mass-going families using artificial contraception, contrary to the teachings of 'Humanae Vitae'.

The United Nations reports the countries with the highest rates of children born per woman are in Africa, with Chad, Somalia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Central African Republic, and Niger having rates above 5.7. In contrast, Europe's birth rates are comparable to the U.S., with countries like France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, and Italy having rates below 1.7. Guatemala's birth rate is 2.26 babies per woman, while Mexico's is 1.87 and Argentina's is 1.51.

Simone and Malcolm Collins, founders of Pronatalist.org, have admitted to using genetic testing and selection to optimize the mental health traits of their unborn children, a practice that has raised ethical concerns.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church declares that the family is the original cell of social life and is essential for the formation of a healthy society. Cooper suggests that families and priests could help improve the situation by preaching pronatalism, and the laity could cultivate the virtues required to live pronatally.

In conclusion, the declining birth rate is a complex issue with various perspectives, from economic and social to religious and ethical. As the debate continues, it's crucial to maintain a balanced and respectful discourse, ensuring the rights and well-being of individuals are prioritized while addressing the potential challenges that a declining population could pose.

Advocacy for More Births: Delving Deeper, Some Supporters Simply Express a Desire for Increased Offspring Numbers