Natalism

Natalism (also called pronatalism or the pro-birth position) is an ideology that promotes the reproduction of human life as an important objective of being human and advocates high birthrate.^[1] According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the term, as it relates to the belief itself, dates from 1971 and comes from French: nataliste, formed from French: natalité, birthrate.^[2]

Natalism promotes child-bearing and parenthood as desirable for social reasons and to ensure the continuance of humanity. Some philosophers have noted that if humans fail to have children, humans would become extinct.^[3][4] However, many reproductive rights advocates and environmentalists see it as a driver of reproductive injustice, population growth, and ecological overshoot.^{[5][6][7][8][9][10]} Natalism in public policy typically seeks to create financial and social incentives for populations to reproduce, such as providing tax incentives that reward having and supporting children.^[6] Those who adhere to more strict natalism may seek to limit access to abortion and contraception, as well.^[11] The opposite of natalism is antinatalism; however most feminists and reproductive rights advocates challenge natalism in order to elevate procreative freedom, and do not align with antinatalism.^[12][6]