slate.com on Nostr: Bullet points of This Is the Fertility Election. And Both Sides Are Getting It Wrong. ...

Bullet points of This Is the Fertility Election. And Both Sides Are Getting It Wrong.
- Kamala Harris, a Democratic presidential candidate, is being criticized for not having biological children of her own, a fact her opponents are using to question her presidential fitness.
- The politics of fertility are becoming increasingly important in the 2020 US presidential election, with Republicans like J.D. Vance and Donald Trump making comments about childlessness and family values.
- Democrats, on the other hand, are pushing for pro-family policies like paid parental leave and affordable child care, which are standard in many other developed countries.
- The divide between the two parties on issues related to family and fertility is stark, with Republicans often prioritizing anti-abortion policies and Democrats focusing on supporting mothers and infants.
- The decision to have children is complex and influenced by a range of factors, including economic conditions, education, and personal freedom.
- Women's unprecedented abilities to find meaning and purpose outside of motherhood are also contributing to lower birth rates, as many women are choosing to prioritize their careers and personal goals over childbearing.
- High birth rates are often tied to religiosity, poverty, and lack of economic opportunity, while lower birth rates are associated with industrialization, better health and health care, and greater personal freedoms.
- Women's historical lack of access to education, economic opportunities, and social respect outside of motherhood has also contributed to their lower birth rates in many countries.