Give birth, women, give birth… We want more babies… Let it become fashionable to have many children… We support the family so the nation can grow… We need larger families. These are expressions reflecting a kind of fertility cult recently voiced in speeches by heads of state.
The cult of fertility, a phenomenon present in various cultures throughout history, focused on venerating fertility as a vital principle through rituals and practices celebrating the abundance of land, animals, and humans. This approach appears rooted in the need to ensure the survival of communities, where population growth is associated with prosperity and cultural continuity.
Is it possible to speak of a modern fertility cult today? Several factors come together to shape the revival of a pro-natal culture that, while offering certain benefits when coupled with economic support for families, also raises serious concerns about women’s reproductive autonomy and their right to decide over their bodies.
The reasons behind the cult
In many contemporary societies, fertility and motherhood are often idealized in popular culture, advertising, and social media. In numerous messages and images, the glorification of motherhood is evident, presenting idealized experiences of maternity and generating social pressure for women to become mothers, adhering to heteropatriarchal standards of reproduction as a vital mission.
Additionally, some political leaders have adopted an explicit approach centered on messaging that pushes women to bear children as a social and cultural imperative. This phenomenon has resurfaced today through policies promoted by politicians like Marine Le Pen in France, Viktor Orbán in Hungary, Xi Jinping in China, Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela, Donald Trump in the USA, and Putin in Russia, among others. These policies are influenced by narratives that favor certain groups or ideologies, disregarding women’s individual rights and desires.
The explanations supporting the resurgence of these policies are varied. First, concerns about population aging have led some governments to view increased birth rates as a demographic and economic solution.
The fertility rate (average number of children per woman) has declined globally over recent decades. This decline has been observed in many regions, especially in developing countries. Factors such as access to contraception, women’s education, urbanization, and changing social expectations have contributed to this trend.
Globally, the total fertility rate (TFR) has fallen below replacement levels, which is about 2.1 children per woman, and it is expected to continue decreasing. Estimates and projections from the UN Population Division and ECLAC confirm an ever-slowing population growth rate in Latin America, as a result of decreasing fertility. The TFR for Latin America and the Caribbean in 2022 is estimated at 1.85 live births per woman, below the replacement level since 2015. Projections indicate it will continue to drop, reaching 1.68 live births per woman by 2100.
As fertility rates decrease, the proportion of elderly people in the population increases. This can create economic challenges, such as a smaller labor force and higher healthcare and pension costs. Therefore, some governments see boosting birth rates as a solution to maintain a dynamic economy.
Motherhood as destiny
In addition to demographic factors, other reasons fueling the cult of fertility include the emergence of conservative movements promoting the idea that motherhood is the primary role women must fulfill, often aligned with traditional values that defend the family as the fundamental unit of society.
“Give birth, then, give birth! All women must have six children! All! Let the nation grow!” exclaimed Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro during an event about a pregnancy assistance plan. “Women were made to give birth,” the president declared in 2020, despite Venezuela being mired in a severe economic crisis for years and pregnant women being one of the most vulnerable groups, as NGO Caritas denounced, revealing that 48% of pregnant women assessed in six states of the country suffered from acute malnutrition.
This is a clear example of political rhetoric using motherhood as a symbol of patriotism or devotion to the community, linking fertility with civic responsibility. However, the intention of these statements is to reinforce the idea that a woman’s role centers on motherhood and home care. Promoting fertility is part of a broader agenda used to cement gender stereotypes.
More soldiers and more babies
Another reason behind this new cult has to do with war. Recently, Vladimir Putin from the Kremlin declared increasing birth rates as a national priority. Political analysts link this goal to the aggressive recruitment of soldiers to cover nearly 1,000 daily casualties in the prolonged conflict with Ukraine. “We must take care of the population, increase the fertility rate,” Putin said. “Make it fashionable to have many children, as was the case in Russia in the past: seven, nine, ten people per family.”
In May of this year, Putin declared that one of the government’s key objectives was to increase Russia’s total fertility rate, setting targets of 1.6 by 2030 and 1.8 by 2036. In 2023, Russia’s rate stood at 1.41, compared to the US’s 1.62. To achieve this, he is turning to economic incentives to encourage births: Russian women having their first child receive a one-time payment of $6,700.
Implications for women
Undoubtedly, these policies can have adverse effects on women. The pressure to become mothers limits their life choices and can lead to stigmatization of those who choose not to have children. This pressure creates an environment where reproductive decisions are influenced by social and political expectations, generating anxiety and internal conflict, especially in contexts where motherhood is valued as a duty or a primary objective.
Furthermore, the burden of family responsibilities often falls disproportionately on women, perpetuating traditional gender roles and inequalities in the workplace and personal life. In this system, women are primarily viewed as reproducers and caregivers, limiting their participation in other fields, such as work and politics.
Promoting fertility clearly conflicts with abortion rights, creating a dichotomy that restricts women’s autonomy. In contexts where motherhood is emphasized as a social imperative, abortion is viewed negatively, leading to punishment and criminalization. Pro-fertility stances by political and religious leaders advocating for the defense of life from conception often reinforce this tension.
Although some policies may offer resources to mothers, the lack of a comprehensive care system and the limited involvement of fathers, schools, and communities make these measures insufficient and inequitable. Motherhood, within this fertility cult, is instrumentalized as a tool to advance political agendas, stripping women of the ability to see having children as a personal choice. This is not new. Historically, reproductive and family decisions have been dominated by patriarchal norms, instrumentalizing motherhood as a controlled value under male power. Ultimately, it is a matter of power.
Free choice
Feminists have warned that the insistence on motherhood as a duty restricts women’s right to decide over their own bodies, perpetuates traditional gender roles, and condemns those who choose not to be mothers, especially since pro-fertility policies do not consider the economic realities many women face, such as the cost of raising children and the lack of workplace support. It is essential that reproductive health policies are designed comprehensively, considering all options and women’s rights.
Political leaders must adopt a more equitable, less manipulative, and more respectful approach toward reproduction and motherhood, recognizing and valuing women’s choices without imposing traditional roles or limitations on their political autonomy. Ultimately, true liberation for women means ensuring their ability to make informed and free decisions about their lives and their role in society.
Autor
Psicóloga. Master en Políticas Públicas con enfoque de género. Especialista en Transformación Cultural y Coaching Ontológico. Directora de FeminismoINC. Autora de "Incomodar para Transformar" y "Atrevidas: Manual de trabajo personal por el activismo feminista".
