The New York Times reported that the White House “has been hearing out a chorus of ideas in recent weeks for persuading Americans to get married and have more children, an early sign that the Trump administration will embrace a new cultural agenda pushed by many of its allies on the right to reverse declining birthrates and push conservative family values.” Trump has even called himself the “fertilization president.” What the early proposals lack is actual policy ideas that would make it easier for women and families to raise children––not just have them.
ELLEN GALINSKY; [email protected]
Galinsky is the president of the Families and Work Institute and an expert in family-related studies, including parenthood and child care.
Galinsky told the Institute for Public Accuracy: “I’ve watched many countries adopt pronatalist policies over the years. But you can’t just encourage people to have children. You have to think about what happens to those children after they’re born. The countries that have been more successful in [raising children] have given family allowances, parental leave, and focused on who will teach and take care of children. The more children you have, the more likely it is you’ll need to work and bring in a salary. Do parents have flexibility at their workplace?
“Pronatalist policies need to be understood in the context of help and support that is given to women and families as they raise their children. If [potential parents] look around and see a world where families aren’t getting support or flexibility––not getting leave at work to take care of sick children or be home with children when they’re born, not having the early childhood education and care they need––then the experience of other countries has shown us that [those parents] won’t have more children. For years, proposals and debates have separated having children from raising children. But parents aren’t dumb. They’ll look around and ask whether this is a world where it’s good to have children.
“Everyone I know who has devoted their lives to children and families is very uncertain about the future. It’s more important than ever to ensure that workplaces are more friendly, that early education helps children really learn and thrive, and that kids learn the skills they need to live in a complex, changing world.”