Fertility Decline Alarms Conservatives
The U.S. fertility rate fell to a historic low in 2024, according to CDC data. At 1.6 children per woman, it’s well below the replacement rate of 2.1. This trend has triggered alarm among prominent conservatives, including Elon Musk and Donald Trump, who advocate for more childbirth as a national priority. Musk warns that low birth rates threaten civilization, while Trump has proposed “baby bonuses” to spur a new baby boom.
Rise of the Pronatalist Movement
Families like Simone and Malcolm Collins in Pennsylvania are leading a cultural shift known as pronatalism. They believe success should start with marriage and family, not careers. The Collinses, expecting their fifth child, say declining fertility could collapse societal systems. Other proponents, like conservative commentator Bethany Mandel, promote large families as fulfilling and vital for national stability.
Economic and Social Barriers
Experts point to multiple drivers behind the decline: access to contraception, delayed childbirth, and economic pressures. Rising housing costs, stagnant wages, and childcare expenses have deterred many from having more children. Mandel argues that increasing the child tax credit could alleviate financial stress, calling current government support inadequate.
Policy Solutions and Political Tensions
Roger Severino of the Heritage Foundation supports tax incentives for heterosexual marriage to boost birth rates. He links stable families to economic sustainability, warning that shrinking worker populations endanger programs like Social Security. Critics, however, argue these policies may enforce traditional gender roles and restrict reproductive rights.
Concerns Over Women’s Rights
Demographers warn that pronatalist rhetoric may endanger women’s freedoms. Charles Haywood, a vocal pronatalist, suggests women should not pursue careers, drawing criticism for misogynistic views. Others, like Leslie Root, stress that fertility cannot be manipulated like economic variables and caution against policies that shift blame onto women. Mandel acknowledges the danger of extreme voices dominating the movement and calls for more pro-women leadership in the conversation.
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A look inside the pronatalism movement encouraging Americans to have more children
Photo by Luma Pimentel on Unsplash
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