Want more proof that women who are treated equally don't want to have as many babies? When looking at birth rates for all the countries in the world (where data is available), and then looking at their level of gender equality, you see:
Now, for most of these countries along the trendline (exponential here), you see the reason why we so desperately need to continue to fight for women's rights to their body, full sexual education, and accessibility to birth control. Women who have a more equal economic environment need the basics in sexual health to maintain that equality.
What can the United States do more of? Like I said earlier, family policy:
- Create a government-subsidized child care market
- Create laws around longer parental leave for childrearing - both father and mother
- Decrease the gender gap to allow women to choose work
- Increase funding to reduce child poverty
- Universal preschool to allow parents to return to work
- Tax incentives for second-earners in households
Did I miss anything? Put it in the comments.