Nomia Iqbal

It is. So, a general definition would be it's any attitude or any policy that's pro-birth, that basically encourages reproduction. So, any view that basically considers parenthood as the most amazing thing that you can do, the most powerful, incredible role. And so, basically, pronatalists think that people should have more babies. Others go further. They think it should be state-sponsored.

It is. So, a general definition would be it's any attitude or any policy that's pro-birth, that basically encourages reproduction. So, any view that basically considers parenthood as the most amazing thing that you can do, the most powerful, incredible role. And so, basically, pronatalists think that people should have more babies. Others go further. They think it should be state-sponsored.

And then you have this kind of crossover with those who are anti-abortion, and they believe in total abortion bans.

And then you have this kind of crossover with those who are anti-abortion, and they believe in total abortion bans.

Well, it means that there is a decline in birth rates. And that is true. So, for a country in the developed world, like the U.S., to increase or maintain its population, it needs a birth rate of 2.1 children per woman on average. And that's known as the replacement rate. So, here in the U.S., the fertility rate fell in 2023 to 1.62. That's a record low. And then last year, it was 1.78.

Well, it means that there is a decline in birth rates. And that is true. So, for a country in the developed world, like the U.S., to increase or maintain its population, it needs a birth rate of 2.1 children per woman on average. And that's known as the replacement rate. So, here in the U.S., the fertility rate fell in 2023 to 1.62. That's a record low. And then last year, it was 1.78.

So, it climbed up. But that's still low, especially if you think back to 1960. It was 3.65%. And so, if you're a pronatalist, generally speaking, your argument, well, certainly on the extreme end, I would say, of that movement, your argument would go something like this. Birth rates are falling. If we don't take dramatic action, we're going to witness the extinction of entire societies.

So, it climbed up. But that's still low, especially if you think back to 1960. It was 3.65%. And so, if you're a pronatalist, generally speaking, your argument, well, certainly on the extreme end, I would say, of that movement, your argument would go something like this. Birth rates are falling. If we don't take dramatic action, we're going to witness the extinction of entire societies.

The economy will collapse. Entire races and countries will be wiped out because of lower fertility rates.

The economy will collapse. Entire races and countries will be wiped out because of lower fertility rates.

I mean, it's not a new concept. If you read the Bible, you've got, you know, be fruitful and multiply. And then there are lots of other religious traditions. And they go all the way back to, I think it's Louis XIV's France. So They had a policy in France of encouraging large families back in 1666. There was basically this edict offering tax privileges to fathers of 10 or more children.

I mean, it's not a new concept. If you read the Bible, you've got, you know, be fruitful and multiply. And then there are lots of other religious traditions. And they go all the way back to, I think it's Louis XIV's France. So They had a policy in France of encouraging large families back in 1666. There was basically this edict offering tax privileges to fathers of 10 or more children.

And that was aimed at increasing the population, strengthening the nation. You had Soviet Russia as well. They wanted to respond to population losses during and after World War II. The goal was increase the birth rates, bolster the workforce. And then even here in the U.S. in 1920s America, women had the right to vote. They could go to work.

And that was aimed at increasing the population, strengthening the nation. You had Soviet Russia as well. They wanted to respond to population losses during and after World War II. The goal was increase the birth rates, bolster the workforce. And then even here in the U.S. in 1920s America, women had the right to vote. They could go to work.

And so there were lots of concerns about what that meant in regards to having babies. And now we've seen this resurgence, I guess, of pronatalism because you do have this modern tech look to it, don't you? You have many in Silicon Valley who have taken a big interest in pronatalism.

And so there were lots of concerns about what that meant in regards to having babies. And now we've seen this resurgence, I guess, of pronatalism because you do have this modern tech look to it, don't you? You have many in Silicon Valley who have taken a big interest in pronatalism.

It's interesting, isn't it? The pronatalists, many of them don't want to just increase the birth rate. Some want to sort of optimise the children being born. You get those who are pro-family and pronatalists. I think that's probably how I would try and separate the two. And not everyone who is pro-having kids probably tests their embryos to the extent that

It's interesting, isn't it? The pronatalists, many of them don't want to just increase the birth rate. Some want to sort of optimise the children being born. You get those who are pro-family and pronatalists. I think that's probably how I would try and separate the two. And not everyone who is pro-having kids probably tests their embryos to the extent that

the Collins family do or even can afford to do it. So you do get families who do the common testing to make sure their unborn child is healthy, not at risk of any hereditary diseases. But whilst the numbers doing what the Collins family is doing is much smaller. I think there is actually a huge push by the Silicon Valley tech world.

the Collins family do or even can afford to do it. So you do get families who do the common testing to make sure their unborn child is healthy, not at risk of any hereditary diseases. But whilst the numbers doing what the Collins family is doing is much smaller. I think there is actually a huge push by the Silicon Valley tech world.