How COVID 19 pandemic affects birth rates

Summary

Babe Kawaii Bogue, a therapist from San Francisco, shares her personal journey of overcoming financial challenges and pursuing education while navigating the societal pressures on women to balance career and family. Her story highlights how the pandemic disrupted her plans to start a family. The video explores the broader issue of declining fertility rates globally, fueled by economic pressures, delayed parenthood, and an aging population. Despite efforts by governments to encourage childbearing, the impact of the pandemic and systemic inequalities continue to challenge women's ability to balance their careers with starting families, creating long-term demographic and economic concerns.

Takeaways

• 😀 Babe Kawaii Bogue is a 37-year-old therapist with a successful career in San Francisco, holding both a master's degree and a PhD.
• 😀 Babe grew up below the poverty line with a single mother and aimed to be in a position where she could provide for children on her own.
• 😀 At 25, she decided to pursue graduate school, but the significant debt she incurred delayed her plans for starting a family.
• 😀 The pandemic struck when Babe was 36, just as she was ready to date and meet people, disrupting her plans to start a family.
• 😀 The pandemic caused a global disruption in fertility rates, as many people hesitated to have children during a time of uncertainty and social restrictions.
• 😀 Fertility rates have been declining worldwide for the past 50 years, especially in developed countries with lower mortality rates, easy access to birth control, and high costs for raising children.
• 😀 The combination of higher death rates due to COVID-19 and fewer children being born is expected to worsen population decline, particularly in countries with aging populations.
• 😀 Countries like China, the U.S., India, and Mexico are experiencing slower population growth, and the drop in fertility rates is threatening economies and jobs.
• 😀 A fertility rate below 1.5 children per woman, maintained for several decades, leads to rapid population aging and eventual population decline, creating societal and economic imbalances.
• 😀 Governments have tried to address this issue by incentivizing childbearing and raising the age of mandatory retirement, but solutions are still being explored.
• 😀 Babe Kawaii Bogue reflects on the challenges women face in balancing careers, family, and societal expectations, noting that the pandemic has intensified these struggles.

Q & A

What is Babe Kawaii Bogue's background and profession?

Babe Kawaii Bogue is a 37-year-old therapist living and working in San Francisco. She holds a master's degree and a PhD and has built a successful career in therapy.

What were some challenges Babe Kawaii Bogue faced in her early life?

Babe grew up below the poverty line with a single mother. Despite these challenges, she aimed to reach a place where she could independently provide for children.

Why did Babe Kawaii Bogue delay starting a family?

She decided to go to graduate school at 25, which led to significant student debt. As a result, plans to start a family had to be postponed until she could manage her financial situation.

How did the pandemic affect Babe Kawaii Bogue's plans for dating and having children?

At 36, when Babe was finally ready to date and possibly start a family, the pandemic began, limiting social interactions and opportunities to meet people, thus delaying her personal plans.

What broader impact did the pandemic have on fertility rates globally?

The pandemic led many people to hesitate or delay having children due to uncertainty and social restrictions. This has contributed to a decline in fertility rates in some countries.

How have fertility rates changed globally over the past decades?

Fertility rates have been declining over the past half-century, particularly in developed countries, due to factors such as lower mortality rates, easy access to birth control, and the high cost of raising children.

What are the potential consequences of a declining population and aging populations?

A declining and aging population can lead to economic pressures, including labor shortages, reduced productivity, and increased strain on social support systems, as fewer young people are available to support an aging population.

Which countries have seen the most significant declines in population growth?

China and the U.S. saw the slowest population growth in decades. Other countries like India and Mexico, traditionally known for their high population growth, are also experiencing declines in birth rates.

What is the concept of 'extreme population aging' and how is it triggered?

Extreme population aging occurs when a fertility rate of below 1.5 children per woman is maintained for several decades. This leads to rapid population aging and, eventually, population decline.

What measures have governments taken to address the declining fertility rates?

Governments have tried to incentivize baby-making through various policies and also raised the age of mandatory retirement to cope with the demographic challenges of an aging population.

How has the pandemic impacted women’s career and family planning?

The pandemic exacerbated the challenges women face in balancing career and family life, especially in patriarchal systems that don't fully support women's career goals and personal choices. Babe Kawaii Bogue noted that had she been supported by a male partner, she might have had children by now.