Category: News & Fair Start Headlines

  • To Have or Not to Have Kids: A Complex Decision

    To Have or Not to Have Kids: A Complex Decision

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    Latanya Mapp Frett’s article “The End of China’s One-Child Policy Isn’t Enough” leaves some unanswered questions. She argues that “[n]o government should interfere with the decisions women make about whether or when to have children.” Yet the UN projected that if world average fertility remained at 1995 levels (about three children per woman), the world population would soar to 256 billion by 2150. Does Frett mean that governments — who have the obligation to maximize our quality of life — would have to stand by and let that happen? What if they used non-coercive methods or urged smaller families? Frett argues that no government “should interfere with the deeply personal decisions women make about whether or when to have children—period.” But is the decision to have a child the same as the decision to not have a child? Doesn’t the former involve the interests of the child that will exist and the society that child will join? We have the opportunity to create a better future for every child by encouraging smaller families and stronger communities.

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  • Our Values: Population is About More Than Just Numbers

    Our Values: Population is About More Than Just Numbers

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    Recently, the New York Times reported on the need for higher birthrates in China and Europe. There is an unspoken assumption looming behind Steven Erlanger’s article, which rings alarm bells about “aging populations and not enough babies.” He assumes that healthy demographics require replacement-level fertility. But is it true? Even at current birthrates, we’ll fill our world with more than eleven billion people by 2100. Does anyone want their children to live in a world like that, given that our current population of 7.2 billion is enough to degrade our atmosphere, acidify our oceans, change our climate, and cause the mass extinction of other species? Demographics is about values as much as numbers. Assuming the need for replacement-level fertility values traditional growth economics over a cleaner, safer, and healthier future – for us and for our children.

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  • Redefining Kinship With the Responsible Parenting Model

    Redefining Kinship With the Responsible Parenting Model

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    CNN recently cited the need to rethink parenthood, criticizing our cultural fixation on biological connection rather than true kinship and nurturing. The Responsible Parenting model is one way to start to break that fixation, as smaller families work together to invest more in all of their children.

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  • Look Who’s Adopting the Responsible Parenting Model

    Look Who’s Adopting the Responsible Parenting Model

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    My name is Sarah Johnson. I’m a Family Nurse Practitioner living in San Francisco. I’m adopting the Responsible Parenting model because I personally saw the impact having three children had on my family as a child. When I have my own family, I will have one or two children so that I can focus more time and attention them, and have enough left over to help other families plan for their first or second child. I’ll have the energy and resources to thoughtfully engage with my community on the issues that matter to me and my family.

    Thanks for listening.

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