France's Controversial Baby Letters to 29-Year-Olds Miss the Real Issue
Imagine receiving a letter from your government reminding you to have children. That is precisely what is happening in France, where the health ministry is sending out missives to citizens aged 29, urging them to consider starting a family. The initiative, part of a broader 16-point plan to tackle declining birthrates, has sparked widespread criticism for its tone-deaf approach to a complex societal issue.
A Gendered and Symbolic Gesture
The choice of age 29 is deeply symbolic, hinting that 30 is looming and with it, fertility concerns. While officials stress the letters target both men and women, emphasizing that "fertility is a shared responsibility," the pressure remains disproportionately on women. When was the last time a man heard "tick tock" about his biological clock at 30? The gendered nature of this campaign cannot be ignored, especially when considering who physically bears children.
Critics argue the government is spectacularly missing the point. A serious plan to address low birthrates should include tackling the housing crisis. If people could afford stable homes, they might be more inclined to settle down and start families. Maternity leave policies also remain a significant barrier, often treated as a "her-problem" rather than a societal one.
Broader Political Dimensions and Demographic Fears
The debate extends beyond personal choices into the realm of pensions, welfare systems, and immigration politics. As sustainability professor François Gemenne notes, this is not just about babies but about "the obsession with immigration and the fear of being 'replaced'." Pro-natalist policies, championed by figures like Hungary's Viktor Orbán and Elon Musk, often carry worrying undertones about human value and demographic replacement narratives.
If the goal were genuinely to balance retirees against workers, countries with low birthrates would welcome migrants with open arms, offering language lessons and integration support. Instead, the focus on fertility can fuel divisive rhetoric, using citizens as pawns in a larger political game.
Historical Context and Systemic Failures
France and Germany have long struggled with birthrate policies. In the past, French mothers were expected to return to work almost immediately after childbirth, while German mothers faced years out of the workforce. Both systems were flawed, and today, both nations face so-called "crisis" levels of low birthrates, similar to the UK.
The letters to 29-year-olds may be well-intentioned, but they fail to address the root causes: economic insecurity, inadequate parental support, and deep-seated gender inequalities. Until these issues are resolved, such gestures risk being seen as empty symbolism rather than meaningful change.
