Monday, August 09, 2004
'Gender equality' drives down birth rates says UN official
The ongoing campaign for "gender equality" is aggravating a fertility decline that endangers the very existence of some nations, warns a United Nations official. Dr Joseph Chamie, Director of the Population Division of the UN's Department of Economic and Social Affairs was speaking in a personal capacity at the annual meeting of the Population Association of America.
"A growing number of countries view their low birth rates, with the resulting population decline and ageing, to be a serious crisis, jeopardising the basic foundations of the nation and threatening its survival," he said. "Economic growth and vitality, defence, and pensions and healthcare for the elderly, for example, are all areas of major concern."
Dr Chamie, whose division produces long-term forecasts for world population, said one-third of countries now have below replacement fertility of less than 2.1 births per woman. In 15 countries the fertility-rate has shrunk to 1.5 children or less.
In an unprecedented statement for a high-ranking UN official, Chamie said: "While many governments, inter-governmental organisations, non-governmental organisations and individuals may strongly support gender equality at work and in the home as a fundamental principle and desirable goal, it is not at all evident how having men and women participate equally in employment, parenting and household responsibilities will raise low levels of fertility.
"On the contrary, the equal participation of men and women in the labour force, child-rearing and housework points precisely in the opposite direction, i.e., below replacement fertility. And this is in fact precisely what is being observed today in an increasing number of countries."
The ongoing campaign for "gender equality" is aggravating a fertility decline that endangers the very existence of some nations, warns a United Nations official. Dr Joseph Chamie, Director of the Population Division of the UN's Department of Economic and Social Affairs was speaking in a personal capacity at the annual meeting of the Population Association of America.
"A growing number of countries view their low birth rates, with the resulting population decline and ageing, to be a serious crisis, jeopardising the basic foundations of the nation and threatening its survival," he said. "Economic growth and vitality, defence, and pensions and healthcare for the elderly, for example, are all areas of major concern."
Dr Chamie, whose division produces long-term forecasts for world population, said one-third of countries now have below replacement fertility of less than 2.1 births per woman. In 15 countries the fertility-rate has shrunk to 1.5 children or less.
In an unprecedented statement for a high-ranking UN official, Chamie said: "While many governments, inter-governmental organisations, non-governmental organisations and individuals may strongly support gender equality at work and in the home as a fundamental principle and desirable goal, it is not at all evident how having men and women participate equally in employment, parenting and household responsibilities will raise low levels of fertility.
"On the contrary, the equal participation of men and women in the labour force, child-rearing and housework points precisely in the opposite direction, i.e., below replacement fertility. And this is in fact precisely what is being observed today in an increasing number of countries."
