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"
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
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Economic uncertainty and first-birth intentions in Europe
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Reconciling studies of men’s gender attitudes and fertility: Response to Westoff and Higgins
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Men's childbearing desires and views of the male role in Europe at the dawn of the 21st century
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Sweden: Combining childbearing and gender equality
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