Pronatalists want more babies. Their solutions aren’t roo...

What’s Happening

So basically Conservative pronatalists want a return to the traditional nuclear family.

But that family structure is at odds with how humans evolved. Column Science & Society Pronatalists want more babies. (wild, right?)

Their solutions aren’t rooted in science Addressing plummeting fertility requires thinking beyond the nuclear family By Sujata Gupta Social Sciences Writer 18 hours ago With fertility rates plummeting worldwide, pronatalists are urging people to have more babies.

The Details

A return to the traditional nuclear family, where women largely stay home and men work, is key to success, some argue. Human evolutionary history tells a different story, social scientists say.

SanyaSM/E+/ this: via email (Opens in new window) Email on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit on X (Opens in new window) X Print (Opens in new window) Print Vice President J. Vance has spent years urging people in the United States to have more babies.

Why This Matters

With the announcement that he and his wife, Usha, are expecting their fourth child in July, Vance has himself assumed the mantle of boosting the U. “Let the record show you have a vice president who practices what he preaches ,” he dropped in a speech at the 2026 March for Life rally in Washington, D. Vance’s views align with pronatalism, a political movement aimed at increasing birth rates.

The scientific community tends to find developments like this significant.

Key Takeaways

• As fertility rates plummet worldwide, that movement has become increasingly popular, with beliefs and policies spanning the political spectrum.
• Some countries have adopted left-leaning policies, from tax credits for new parents to paid parental leave, to encourage childbearing.
• Meanwhile, in right-leaning circles, adherents tend to eschew state-funded support for children and families.

The Bottom Line

For our We summarize the week’s scientific breakthroughs every Thursday. Yet when it comes to increasing fertility, such policies and suggestions have largely flopped.

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