Today in Focus Making America pregnant again: the pro-natalist movement
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Jun 2, 2025 Moira Donegan, a Guardian US columnist, dives into the rising pro-natalist movement in America, highlighting the desire for higher birth rates among different groups. She discusses the controversial ideologies surrounding this movement, including the impact of figures like Elon Musk and the troubling connections to eugenics. The podcast also contrasts the limited success of pro-natalist policies with the realities faced by modern parents, examining how economic pressures and societal attitudes shape reproductive choices today.
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Pronatalism's Eugenic Agenda
- The pro-natalist movement in the US is driven by a perceived civilizational crisis due to declining birth rates.
- Some advocates seek not just more babies, but genetically "better" babies, often with racial and eugenic undertones.
Elite-Driven Pronatalism
- Pronatalism is not a grassroots movement; it is supported by influential figures like J.D. Vance, Elon Musk, and Donald Trump.
- These proponents link national duty and identity to increasing birth rates, especially among certain populations.
Diverse Faces of Pronatalism
- Pronatalist factions range from traditionalist Catholics opposing birth control to tech futurists promoting advanced reproductive technologies.
- Both emphasize increasing birth rates but differ on methods and underlying values, including controversial gene editing.