France's plan to send letters to 29-year-olds urging them to have children has been criticised as a misguided approach to tackling low birth rates. The letters, sent by the health ministry to both men and women, emphasise that 'fertility is a shared responsibility between women and men'. However, critics argue that the pressure disproportionately falls on women, with the age of 29 chosen symbolically to flag concerns about fertility as 30 approaches.
The initiative is part of a broader 16-point plan to address France's falling birth rate, currently at 1.56 children per woman, well below the 2.1 needed for a sustainable population. But commentators point out that the plan overlooks key issues such as housing affordability and maternity leave policies. 'If anyone could afford to house themselves, they might be quicker to settle down,' noted one observer.
The debate extends beyond France, with similar concerns in Germany and the UK. Sustainability professor François Gemenne linked the issue to pensions, the welfare state, and modern politics' 'obsession with immigration and the fear of being replaced'. He warned that the pro-natalist narrative, popularised by Hungary's Viktor Orbán and Elon Musk, risks creating a 'Great Replacement' narrative.
Critics urge 29-year-olds not to be used as pawns in such narratives, arguing that starting a family should not be driven by political agendas. The effectiveness of the letter campaign remains to be seen, but it has already sparked a wider conversation about the true causes of declining birth rates.
