Volume 24 - Article 9 | Pages 217–224  

Should governments in Europe be more aggressive in pushing for gender equality to raise fertility? The second "YES"

By Livia Sz. Oláh

This article is part of the Special Collection 9 „Rostock Debate on Demographic Change“

Abstract

This paper is based on my contribution to a debate, organized by MPIDR, on the question displayed in the title above. I was asked to present arguments for the "yes"-response (together with Laurent Toulemon, and arguing against the "no"-side represented by Gerda Neyer and Dimiter Philipov). As pointed out in the paper, the most important theoretical reasoning relevant for this question is the gender equity theory. A number of studies provide sound empirical support to it, as discussed in the paper in details, and thereby also a rationale for a positive impact of increased gender equality on fertility. As the dual-earner family is here to stay, and given the well-known negative consequences of long-term very low fertility for a society, pushing for gender equality seems to be a reasonable strategy to be considered aiming for sustainable societal development.

Author’s Affiliation

• Livia Sz. Oláh - Stockholms Universitet, Sweden EMAIL

Other articles by the same author/authors in Demographic Research

Introduction to the Special Collection on The new roles of women and men and implications for families and societies
Volume 48 - Article 29

Economic uncertainty and first-birth intentions in Europe
Volume 39 - Article 28

Reconciling studies of men’s gender attitudes and fertility: Response to Westoff and Higgins
Volume 22 - Article 8

Men's childbearing desires and views of the male role in Europe at the dawn of the 21st century
Volume 19 - Article 56

Sweden: Combining childbearing and gender equality
Volume 19 - Article 28

Gender and family stability: Dissolution of the first parental union in Sweden and Hungary
Volume 4 - Article 2

Becoming a Mother in Hungary and Poland during State Socialism
Special Collection 3 - Article 9

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