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There is a theory that the root cause of these problems is the continued dismantling of traditional gender roles. If women had not entered the workforce in mas

There is a theory that the root cause of these problems is the continued dismantling of traditional gender roles. If women had not entered the workforce in massive numbers things could have continued based on old trajectories. The male breadwinner/housewife lifestyle was a formula that made it ideal for raising children cheaply, even if it didn’t seem like the most equitable. If I had a good job and settled with a wife straight out of college I’m sure I’d be a father to two children by now. My income could easily support a non-working spouse and some kids. But many of the women around me were not the type to settle so early, so I chased the money and ever more ambitious women. And with no family to support, I had dangerous amounts of money to spend on ever increasing prices and property. And if I should marry a woman with equal earning power as me, we will be able to spend even more on whatever inflated prices are set before us. If you’ve ever been in a gay household with two men earning typical male salaries and no children, one thing you notice is that they always have tons of purchasing power. What do you think that does to the economy when it scales out?

kartan 8y ago
> There is a theory that the root cause of these problems is the continued dismantling of traditional gender roles. Except that Japan has kept traditional gender roles, where the woman leaves her job when marries, and they have one of the lower fertility rates in the world. At the same time, Sweden with very strong gender equality has a higher fertility rate than other European countries. Even that it is still low compared with historical hights.
- Tohhou 8y ago
  Western countries have lower rates than Japan when you exclude for native birth rates. Western countries get a big boost in birth rate when you account for non-natives having population booms.
  - sudouser 8y ago
    this, an often overlooked factor are immigrants’ contributions to SS in the united states
  - xxxdarrenxxx 8y ago
    There is research hinting that we prefer/are more inclined to mate and is beneficial to mix the genes. Evidently the opposite is incest and the direct result is not desirable.
  - beagle3 8y ago
    With the exception of Israel & Ireland, which are the only two western countries to have a positive native birth rate (avg >2.2 births/woman - supposedly 2.2 is the magic number that keeps a population size stable).
u90g4u8904 8y ago
Sounds to me like the problem isn't dismantling of gender roles and more that our society and workplace was designed for single income families. This is why many activists are fighting for paid family leave (including paternal leave), more flexibile work schedules, and affordable child care.

kartan 8y ago

> There is a theory that the root cause of these problems is the continued dismantling of traditional gender roles. Except that Japan has kept traditional gender roles, where the woman leaves her job when marries, and they have one of the lower fertility rates in the world. At the same time, Sweden with very strong gender equality has a higher fertility rate than other European countries. Even that it is still low compared with historical hights.

Tohhou 8y ago
Western countries have lower rates than Japan when you exclude for native birth rates. Western countries get a big boost in birth rate when you account for non-natives having population booms.
- sudouser 8y ago
  this, an often overlooked factor are immigrants’ contributions to SS in the united states
- xxxdarrenxxx 8y ago
  There is research hinting that we prefer/are more inclined to mate and is beneficial to mix the genes. Evidently the opposite is incest and the direct result is not desirable.
- beagle3 8y ago
  With the exception of Israel & Ireland, which are the only two western countries to have a positive native birth rate (avg >2.2 births/woman - supposedly 2.2 is the magic number that keeps a population size stable).

u90g4u8904 8y ago

Sounds to me like the problem isn't dismantling of gender roles and more that our society and workplace was designed for single income families. This is why many activists are fighting for paid family leave (including paternal leave), more flexibile work schedules, and affordable child care.