Fertility decline reflects gender roles and social inequality

Source: The post Fertility decline reflects gender roles and social inequality has been created, based on the article “Falling fertility calls for fast gender justice gains” published in “Live Mint” on 12th June 2025

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper2-Governance-Social Justice

Context: The UN’s State of World Population 2025 report highlights a significant demographic shift: India’s total fertility rate (TFR) has fallen below replacement level to 1.9. This trend prompts reflection on social structures, gender norms, and reproductive rights, urging societies to prioritize gender justice and redefine traditional roles.

For detailed information on Issue of fertility rate in India read this article here

Decline in Fertility Rates and Global Reactions

1. India’s Falling TFR: India’s TFR has dropped to 1.9, below the replacement rate of 2.1. The National Family Health Survey (2019–2021) had earlier estimated it at 2.0, showing a continued decline. However, regional variations remain significant.
2. Global Fertility Trends: The 20th-century fertility boom raised fears of population explosion, especially among Western conservatives who backed population control in Asia and Africa. These outdated fears still influence many policy circles.
3. Shift to Population Implosion Concerns: Wealthy nations now worry about too few births. Their fear of being outnumbered by non-Western immigrants fuels rising xenophobia and anti-immigrant politics in the US and Europe.

The Real Crisis: Denial of Reproductive Rights

1. UN’s Core Message: The report reframes the debate: the real fertility crisis is not about population size but about the widespread denial of reproductive rights in both rich and poor countries.
2. Reproductive Autonomy and Social Norms: Wealth does not guarantee reproductive freedom. True autonomy involves the ability to choose whether and when to have children, which depends on gender-equitable social systems.
3. Call for Gender Justice: The report emphasizes reproductive rights as part of gender justice and social inclusion. Ensuring these rights requires dismantling entrenched patriarchal attitudes.

Gender Norms and Fertility Decisions

1. Lessons from South Korea: With a TFR of 0.8, South Korean women are rejecting motherhood and marriage due to unjust gender roles, poor financial security, and lack of childcare support.
2. The Indian Scenario: India’s fertility patterns vary with income, caste, and empowerment. Many professional women manage careers by outsourcing domestic work, usually to lower-income women.
3. Unsustainability of Outsourcing: As poorer sections gain upward mobility, domestic help will become costlier. This threatens the current model and could lead India toward a similar fertility dip as seen in South Korea.

Urgency of Social Reform

1. Need for Societal Change: Economic progress alone cannot ensure gender equity. To prevent future fertility collapse, societies must evolve—starting with promoting equality at home.
2. Redefining Traditions: Old traditions that perpetuate gender inequality must be questioned. Real change requires discarding oppressive norms in favor of inclusive family structures.

Question for practice:

Examine how gender norms and social structures influence fertility trends in India and other countries.