Based Camp | Simone & Malcolm Collins

Why Do Feminist Countries Have Higher Birth Rates?

Jan 8, 2026
The discussion reveals a surprising link between female workforce participation and post-war baby booms in various countries. Historical shifts in women's roles during WWII sparked cultural changes and increased birth rates. Insights on vitality and enthusiasm as drivers for higher fertility emerge, alongside the idea that community support stabilizes marriages. They further explore how both gender empowerment and traditional roles can influence fertility dynamics, presenting a nuanced view on the complexities of motherhood and partnership in modern society.
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INSIGHT

Female Workforce Rise Correlates With Baby Boom

  • Malcolm Collins observes that fertility decline halted or reversed in countries where women entered the workforce around WWII.
  • He suggests female empowerment may have driven the post-war baby boom in places like the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
INSIGHT

Gender Equality Tracks With Higher Developed-Country Fertility

  • Simone and Malcolm note a geographic pattern: more gender-equal regions often show higher fertility among developed countries.
  • They contrast high-fertility places (US, Northern Europe, Israel) with low-fertility East Asia and parts of Southern Europe.
INSIGHT

Female Work Alone Doesn’t Fully Explain Fertility Shifts

  • The hosts note that rapid fertility declines (e.g., India in the 1990s) occurred without big jumps in female workforce participation.
  • This suggests increasing female labor alone doesn't universally drive fertility rises or falls.
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