Should governments in Europe be more aggressive in pushing for gender equality to
raise fertility? : the first "YES"
Autor/in:
Toulemon, Laurent
Quelle: Demographic Research, Vol. 24 (2011) , S. 179-200
Details
Inhalt: "Together with three colleagues, the author has been asked by the MPIDR to debate
the following question: 'Should governments in Europe be more aggressive in pushing
for gender equality to raise fertility?' Setting aside the 'lighthearted' side of
this 'Rostocker Debate', (12 minutes for each speech, one minute for each comment),
the author saws this as a good opportunity to think about the stakes behind the question.
In order to address this complex issue, it is necessary to think about the many 'preliminary
questions' that we have to ponder before responding: Why should fertility be raised?
Are political measures legitimate? Are they efficient? On what basis are we qualified
to give 'expert' opinions on such a topic? When the question comes to the fore, we
as scholars are sometimes asked to provide an answer. It would, of course, be more
comfortable not to answer, but our interlocutors (politicians, journalists, teachers,
and also funding agencies) often want a definite response one way or the other. Even
though our position may be a matter of politics as well as a matter of science, we
must give an answer. The empirical evidence shows that European countries where gender
inequality is lower are also the countries where fertility is the highest. This is
the evidence-based response that we can give to that question. European countries
need to find a new equilibrium after the end of the baby boom period, when gender
equality was very low. In all countries, the empowerment of women is underway, thanks
to the economic independence given by work-related income. Increasing gender equality
is an efficient way to reduce the opportunity costs of having and raising children,
and thus to increase fertility. Finally, 'pushing for gender equality' may have many
positive effects other than raising fertility, and has few negative side effects.
Gender equality is thus a convenient political aim per se; an institutional goal which
leaves many political questions open. So, yes, we agree that governments in Europe
should be more aggressive in pushing for gender equality to raise fertility!" (author's
abstract)|
Schlagwörter:Europa; Bevölkerungspolitik; Gleichstellung; Fruchtbarkeit; Einfluss; Auswirkung; Empowerment; Gleichgewicht; Politik; Ziel; Familie; institutionelle Faktoren
CEWS Kategorie:Gleichstellungspolitik, Vereinbarkeit Familie-Beruf, Demographie und Bevölkerungsfragen
Dokumenttyp:Zeitschriftenaufsatz
Should governments in Europe be more aggressive in pushing for gender equality to
raise fertility? : the first "NO"
Autor/in:
Philipov, Dimiter
Quelle: Demographic Research, Vol. 24 (2011) , S. 201-216
Details
Inhalt: "This paper takes the 'no' side in the debate on the question posed in the title.
The paper assumes that the dual-earner/ dual-carer household model is the most likely
aim of policies that push aggressively for gender equality in order to raise fertility.
Five objections are discussed: the model does not necessarily lead to a fertility
increase; aggressiveness will lead to an imbalance of labor supply and demand, and
is likely to confront slowly changing cultural norms; similar policies will also confront
the issue of innate gender differences; and country idiosyncrasies prevent the application
of a unified policy approach. The paper briefly concludes that compatible gender-neutral
family policies and fertility-neutral gender policies are likely to lead to an increase
in fertility." (author's abstract)|
Schlagwörter:Europa; Bevölkerungspolitik; Gleichstellung; Fruchtbarkeit; Privathaushalt; Beschäftigung; Modell; Diskussion; Arbeitsmarkt; Arbeitsangebot; Arbeitsnachfrage; kulturelle Faktoren; Familienpolitik; Hausarbeit; Dual Career Couple
CEWS Kategorie:Gleichstellungspolitik, Europa und Internationales, Demographie und Bevölkerungsfragen
Dokumenttyp:Zeitschriftenaufsatz
Should governments in Europe be more aggressive in pushing for gender equality to
raise fertility? : the second "YES"
Autor/in:
Oláh, Livia Sz.
Quelle: Demographic Research, Vol. 24 (2011) , S. 217-224
Details
Inhalt: "This paper is based on the authoress's contribution to a debate, organized by MPIDR,
on the question displayed in the title above. She was asked to present arguments for
the 'yes'-response (together with Laurent Toulemon, and arguing against the 'no'-side
represented by Gerda Neyer and Dimiter Philipov). As pointed out in the paper, the
most important theoretical reasoning relevant for this question is the gender equity
theory. A number of studies provide sound empirical support to it, as discussed in
the paper in details, and thereby also a rationale for a positive impact of increased
gender equality on fertility. As the dual-earner family is here to stay, and given
the well-known negative consequences of long-term very low fertility for a society,
pushing for gender equality seems to be a reasonable strategy to be considered aiming
for sustainable societal development." (author's abstract)|
Schlagwörter:Europa; Bevölkerungspolitik; Geschlechterpolitik; Familienpolitik; Gleichstellung; Einfluss; Fruchtbarkeit; Gesellschaft; nachhaltige Entwicklung; demographische Alterung
CEWS Kategorie:Gleichstellungspolitik, Europa und Internationales, Demographie und Bevölkerungsfragen
Dokumenttyp:Zeitschriftenaufsatz
Should governments in Europe be more aggressive in pushing for gender equality to raise fertility? : the first "YES"
Titelübersetzung:Sollen die Regierungen in Europa mehr für die Gleichstellung der Geschlechter tun, um die Fruchtbarkeit zu erhöhen? : die Antwort ist "ja"
Autor/in:
Toulemon, Laurent
Quelle: Demographic Research, Vol. 24 (2011) , S. 179-200
Details
Inhalt: "Together with three colleagues, the author has been asked by the MPIDR to debate the following question: 'Should governments in Europe be more aggressive in pushing for gender equality to raise fertility?' Setting aside the 'lighthearted' side of this 'Rostocker Debate', (12 minutes for each speech, one minute for each comment), the author saws this as a good opportunity to think about the stakes behind the question. In order to address this complex issue, it is necessary to think about the many 'preliminary questions' that we have to ponder before responding: Why should fertility be raised? Are political measures legitimate? Are they efficient? On what basis are we qualified to give 'expert' opinions on such a topic? When the question comes to the fore, we as scholars are sometimes asked to provide an answer. It would, of course, be more comfortable not to answer, but our interlocutors (politicians, journalists, teachers, and also funding agencies) often want a definite response one way or the other. Even though our position may be a matter of politics as well as a matter of science, we must give an answer. The empirical evidence shows that European countries where gender inequality is lower are also the countries where fertility is the highest. This is the evidence-based response that we can give to that question. European countries need to find a new equilibrium after the end of the baby boom period, when gender equality was very low. In all countries, the empowerment of women is underway, thanks to the economic independence given by work-related income. Increasing gender equality is an efficient way to reduce the opportunity costs of having and raising children, and thus to increase fertility. Finally, 'pushing for gender equality' may have many positive effects other than raising fertility, and has few negative side effects. Gender equality is thus a convenient political aim per se; an institutional goal which leaves many political questions open. So, yes, we agree that governments in Europe should be more aggressive in pushing for gender equality to raise fertility!" (author's abstract)
Schlagwörter:Europa; Bevölkerungspolitik; Gleichstellung; Fruchtbarkeit; Einfluss; Auswirkung; Empowerment; Gleichgewicht; Politik; Ziel; Familie; institutionelle Faktoren
CEWS Kategorie:Demographie und Bevölkerungsfragen, Gleichstellungspolitik, Vereinbarkeit Familie-Beruf
Dokumenttyp:Zeitschriftenaufsatz
Should governments in Europe be more aggressive in pushing for gender equality to raise fertility? : the first "NO"
Titelübersetzung:Sollen die Regierungen in Europa mehr für die Gleichstellung der Geschlechter tun, um die Fruchtbarkeit zu erhöhen? : die Antwort ist "nein"
Autor/in:
Philipov, Dimiter
Quelle: Demographic Research, Vol. 24 (2011) , S. 201-216
Details
Inhalt: "This paper takes the 'no' side in the debate on the question posed in the title. The paper assumes that the dual-earner/ dual-carer household model is the most likely aim of policies that push aggressively for gender equality in order to raise fertility. Five objections are discussed: the model does not necessarily lead to a fertility increase; aggressiveness will lead to an imbalance of labor supply and demand, and is likely to confront slowly changing cultural norms; similar policies will also confront the issue of innate gender differences; and country idiosyncrasies prevent the application of a unified policy approach. The paper briefly concludes that compatible gender-neutral family policies and fertility-neutral gender policies are likely to lead to an increase in fertility." (author's abstract)
Schlagwörter:Europa; Bevölkerungspolitik; Gleichstellung; Fruchtbarkeit; Privathaushalt; Beschäftigung; Modell; Diskussion; Arbeitsmarkt; Arbeitsangebot; Arbeitsnachfrage; kulturelle Faktoren; Familienpolitik; Hausarbeit; Dual Career Couple
CEWS Kategorie:Demographie und Bevölkerungsfragen, Europa und Internationales, Gleichstellungspolitik
Dokumenttyp:Zeitschriftenaufsatz
Should governments in Europe be more aggressive in pushing for gender equality to raise fertility? : the second "YES"
Titelübersetzung:Sollen Regierungen in Europa mehr für die Gleichstellung der Geschlechter tun, um die Fruchtbarkeit zu erhöhen? : das zweite "Ja"
Autor/in:
Oláh, Livia Sz.
Quelle: Demographic Research, Vol. 24 (2011) , S. 217-224
Details
Inhalt: "This paper is based on the authoress's contribution to a debate, organized by MPIDR, on the question displayed in the title above. She was asked to present arguments for the 'yes'-response (together with Laurent Toulemon, and arguing against the 'no'-side represented by Gerda Neyer and Dimiter Philipov). As pointed out in the paper, the most important theoretical reasoning relevant for this question is the gender equity theory. A number of studies provide sound empirical support to it, as discussed in the paper in details, and thereby also a rationale for a positive impact of increased gender equality on fertility. As the dual-earner family is here to stay, and given the well-known negative consequences of long-term very low fertility for a society, pushing for gender equality seems to be a reasonable strategy to be considered aiming for sustainable societal development." (author's abstract)
Schlagwörter:Europa; Bevölkerungspolitik; Geschlechterpolitik; Familienpolitik; Gleichstellung; Einfluss; Fruchtbarkeit; Gesellschaft; nachhaltige Entwicklung; demographische Alterung
CEWS Kategorie:Demographie und Bevölkerungsfragen, Europa und Internationales, Gleichstellungspolitik
Dokumenttyp:Zeitschriftenaufsatz
Should governments in Europe be more aggressive in pushing for gender equality to raise fertility? : the second "NO"
Titelübersetzung:Sollen die Regierungen in Europa mehr für die Gleichstellung der Geschlechter tun, um die Fruchtbarkeit zu erhöhen? : das zweite "Nein"
Autor/in:
Neyer, Gerda
Quelle: Demographic Research, Vol. 24 (2011) , S. 225-250
Details
Inhalt: "This paper argues against the suggestion that governments should push for gender equality more aggressively in order to raise fertility. The paper presents a threefold 'no' to this proposal. It takes issue with the goal of raising fertility, arguing that the claims that fertility must be increased are based on myths. It rejects a more aggressive pursuit of gender equality for demographic purposes, maintaining that this method preserves inequality. It warns against using gender equality for fertility purposes, stating that this narrows the realm of gender equality. The paper is based on a debate held at the Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research in Rostock, at which the author was asked to argue against the gender equality-fertility proposal. The other participants in the debate were Laurent Toulemon ('yes'), Dimiter Philipov ('no'), and Livia Oláh ('yes')." (author's abstract)
Schlagwörter:Europa; Bevölkerungspolitik; Geschlechterpolitik; Gleichstellung; Einfluss; Fruchtbarkeit; Mythos; Ethnizität; Eurozentrismus; Ungleichheit; Diskussion; Familienpolitik
CEWS Kategorie:Demographie und Bevölkerungsfragen, Europa und Internationales, Gleichstellungspolitik
Dokumenttyp:Zeitschriftenaufsatz