And what exactly is that male motivation to have a large number of children (sons) if these are not contributing economically and it's a hardship to feed them? These concerns I listed impinge on both men and women. Other things impinge mostly on women, but not the factors I mentioned.
Charles Brown writes:
>CB: Obviously, it has to be women who decide how many children they birth,
>and whether they want a social statement in favor of general relief from
>work of same. Women's right to abortion is the main form that this takes
>today.
>
>I only mentioned the possibility of focussing on women's concerns, because
>I can't recall it being a factor in most specific discussions of population
>growth and control. And as Jim says, gotta admit that ye olde men's "desire
>for offspring" may pressure women not to speak up on it as much as they
>might ( even in the U.S.;even on the left). But I'm not sure. Wondering
>about it. On the left, accusations of Malthusianism might quiet women with
>that opinion. Don't know.
Yes, I've witnessed that attack in some corners of the U.S. left. Socialism shall bring with it joyously large families with bunches of bouncing babies and somehow the women will be glad to bear them in industrial quantities... except we won't unless we're given a damn good reason. And during periods of actually existing socialism, we have tended to go off to work and do other things in preference to having lots of babies.
Jenny Brown