What is being Pro-Natalist? And What is on their Agenda?
What is Pro-Natalism?
The pro-natalist movement is basically a growing push — both ideologically and politically — to get people to have more babies. Supporters argue that boosting birth rates is crucial to offset big problems like aging populations and shrinking workforces, especially in places where fewer people are having kids.
The Big Idea:
At its core, pro-natalism promotes the idea that having kids and growing families isn’t just a personal choice — it’s essential for keeping society and the economy strong. The belief here is that somewhere along the way, modern culture stopped valuing big families, and that’s part of the reason birth rates are falling.
Who's Leading the Charge?
You’ll see big names tied to this, like Elon Musk and Vice President J.D. Vance, both of whom have raised alarms about what declining birth rates could mean long-term. There’s also Simone and Malcolm Collins, founders of Pronatalist.org, who are out there actively promoting a future where bigger families are celebrated and supported.
Some of the things on the pro-natalist "to-do list" include:
Offering financial perks like "baby bonuses" to encourage people to have more kids
Launching fertility education programs so people understand their reproductive timelines earlier
Even proposing new honors like a "National Medal of Motherhood" to celebrate having bigger families
But There Are Some Major Concerns:
A lot of people (myself included) are raising eyebrows because these policies risk ignoring some really important stuff — like reproductive rights, bodily autonomy, and real-world barriers to parenthood. Critics worry that instead of actually supporting people, it could pressure them into parenthood or reinforce outdated gender roles.
And honestly? Offering bonuses and medals doesn’t fix the bigger reasons people are waiting or choosing not to have kids — like the crushing cost of childcare, healthcare, housing, and the general lack of family support structures.
Bottom Line:
The pro-natalist movement taps into real fears about shrinking populations — but the solutions they’re pushing don’t actually address the real reasons people aren’t having kids.
Without fixing the cost of living, healthcare, childcare, or paid leave, offering a few bonuses or medals just feels like putting a Band-Aid on a bullet wound. Worse, it risks turning parenthood into a political tool instead of a personal choice.
At the end of the day, you can't "incentivize" people into building families in a society that doesn't actually support them.
