Is Feminism to Blame for the Imminent Threat of Demographic Winter?

PRESS RELEASE

Contact: Mike Buchanan

Telephone: +44 7967 026163

Is Feminism to Blame for the Imminent Threat of Demographic Winter?

October 4, 2023 – The World Bank reports the startling news that a majority of countries around the world — 111 out of 214 nations — have insufficient fertility rates to sustain their current populations (1). These 111 countries now face the prospect of a “Demographic Winter” in which they fall into a vortex of stagnant economies, over-burdened social welfare programs, and pressures for mass immigration (2). In the words of Twitter CEO Elon Musk, “the rapidly collapsing birth rate is by far the greatest threat to civilization.” (3)

For years, feminists have been warning women that traditional family roles are “oppressive,” urging them to “break the glass ceiling” by focusing on career advancement. In 2019, UN Women released its 285-page manifesto, “Families in a Changing World,” which rails against “patriarchies past and present” and throughout, reflects the group’s angry, anti-family view (4).

The UN Women document devotes an entire chapter to “When Home is Where the Harm Is.” Research shows that men and women in stable, married relationships enjoy the lowest rates of domestic violence (5). But don’t expect UN Women to say anything that could undermine its female liberation narrative.

Not surprisingly, the feminist anti-family message has affected the views of women around the world, convincing many women to delay or avoid marriage. In addition, 59% of married women globally are using modern contraceptive methods, further reducing the fertility rate, according to the World Health Organization (6).

The effect of these twin developments has been a stunning decline in global fertility since the 1970s. In order to maintain steady population numbers, women need to bear an average of 2.1 children, a goal that a growing number of nations are failing to meet. The regions facing imminent Demographic Winter include all of Europe, North America, most parts of Latin America, and the countries of Australia, Russia, China, and South Korea. Only in Africa does the overall fertility rate exceed 2.1 children (7).

In response, 55 countries have declared a policy goal of increasing fertility numbers (8). These are three of many examples:

Canada: Last month, the Conservative Party approved 13 pro-family policy resolutions at its annual convention (9).

Italy: Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has proposed a series of financial incentives, including cutting taxes on first-home purchases (10).

United States: Florida governor Ron DeSantis recently signed a bill to end permanent alimony, making marriage more attractive to prospective husbands (11).

Lawmakers are urged to take prompt action to institute pro-family policies, before the feared Demographic Winter takes hold.

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