Against a climate of geopolitical volatility, environmental catastrophe, and rapid technological advancements t h a t raise existential questions, it is no wonder that birth rates have dropped significantly in recent years. According to The Hub, nearly one in four women in Canada in their forties did not have children in 2024, the same year in which Canada’s total fertility rate dropped to 1.25 children per woman, a figure deemed “ultra-low” alongside countries like South Korea (0.75), Spain (1.21) and Japan (1.23). However, this downward trend can be observed from as early as 1965, just five years after the first oral contraceptive pill was introduced. Three main factors are thought to have triggered this decline in birth rates.
Firstly, women’s empowerment across the decades has shifted women’s position as mothers and caregivers to individual agents responsible for their own financial and professional wellbeing. First wave feminism granted (usually the most privileged) women the right to vote in the early 20th century. Women gained suffrage in 1918 in the UK and Canada, and 1920 in the US with the passage of the 19th amendment. Nonetheless, it wasn’t until 1960 when all women in Canada, including First Nations, Métis and Inuit women (no longer losing treaty rights in doing so), could vote, triggering a period of rapid social change in which women assumed political and professional roles outside the home. By the 1990s, women entering traditionally female fields such as teaching, nursing and clerical work declined in favour of higher qualified jobs, such as doctors, lawyers and professors. 1993 saw the appointment of Kim Campbell, Canada’s first female Prime Minister, and in 2001 the Government Canada officially recognized and sought to correct the gender pay gap. Hundreds of milestones have been reached in regards to women’s equality since. With more women in leadership roles than ever, it is no surprise that they are less inclined to sacrifice time, money, and potentially career advancement to raise a child.
In fact, media outlets have been quick to cover Alexandria Ocasia- Cortez’ decision to freeze her eggs in order to focus on her burgeoning political career. Freezing eggs and leaving potential motherhood for later on in life is becoming a popular option for women who want to explore their career goals and personal aspirations more fully before committing to having children.
A second factor inhibiting people from having children is a cost of living that seems to keep rising exponentially. As if raising a child was not already a financial burden on families, the US’ social welfare provisions make life even harder for working mothers. The US has no federally mandated paid parental leave policy, making it the richest country in the world not to offer it,. as well as one of seven countries in the world not to offer this policy. Although the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) provides (unpaid) leave, the criteria is strict — requiring a history of at least 12 months by a covered employer and 1,250 hours in the past year — leaving many ineligible to claim its benefits. Though 13 states as well as Washington DC have implemented paid parental leave programs, the rest of the country has far to go in this area.
Canada offers a maximum of 15 weeks maternity leave at a 55 per cent wage replacement rate, whilst Quebec runs its own plan (QPIP) allowing up to 18 weeks at a 70 per cent replacement rate. The most generous providers of maternity leave are the Nordic countries, with Sweden entitling parents to about 16 months of paid leave at 80 per cent of their salary. This includes at least 90 days of non-transferable leave, ensuring fathers are also able to take time off.
A third reason people are not having as many children as before is that child mortality has gone down considerably. This previous pattern of rapidly replacing children should also be considered when analysing a decline in contemporary birth figures.
As recently as the 1820s, approximately 1 in 2 children died before reaching the age of 15 as a result of unprecedented levels of poverty and disease. By 2020, child poverty had dropped to just 4.3 per cent . This is also a consequence of the long-term global shift from agrarian to industrial economies with a decreased reliance on child labour.
Given that more and more women are now choosing to live their lives childfree, the use of contraceptives has risen substantially to match this trend. In 2021, 874 million women used modern methods of contraception, such as female sterilization, condoms, implants and the pill. Birth control was historically an incredibly liberating tool for women, arriving in line with the second wave of the feminist movement and sexual revolution. As taboos against sexuality diminished and sex was distinguished from conception, women could better plan when or if they wanted children, givingthem bodily and existential autonomy.
But did we ever consider the long- term and short-term health implications of birth control? Nearly 70 years have passed since the first artificial contraceptives became available and even with hundreds of options on the market, nearly 1 in 4 women report “life-altering” side effects of birth control. The most common effects reported by women include weight changes, mood swings, migraines, and nausea. Women using birth control containing estrogen experienced more severe effects such as high bloodpressure and blood clots.
A study looking at online drug reviews for contraceptive products, such as progetin-only pills, extended- cycle pills and intrauterine devices, also found some women who took contraceptives struggled with painful acne, affecting their self- confidence, as well as mental health problems such as mood swings and depression. One review said “I’m in shock that a small pill could do this much damage.”
Young women around McGill campus reported mixed effects when asked about their experiences with birth control. Some women the progesterone-only pill experienced mood swings, lethargy and general hormone changes. Others taking the combined pill were satisfied with a reduction in acne and elimination of cramps but noted that they may be developing a “dependent” relationship with it, fearing the skin problems and period pains would return worse than before after getting off the pill. One woman, put on birth control to help with endometriosis, experienced a six-month period as a result of going on the pill.
And yet, women continue to take birth control because the price to pay for getting pregnant will always be higher than experiencing mild (or severe) side effects. This is not to say that all women are dissatisfied with birth control; in fact, a Drugwatch study found 49.62 per cent of women were very satisfied with their current method of birth control. It is, however, worth reflecting on the burden placed on women amid a growing pharmaceutical market that has not yet developed an effective male equivalent to the hundreds of female birth control options.
Many may say that it is biologically easier to develop birth control for women, or that there won’t be a market for male birth control. The few studies that have been done on male birth control have indicated successful results. One clinical trial used progestogen and testosterone injections to kill sperm in healthy adult men and observed a 98.5 per cent success rate, though adverse side effects such as acne and injection site pain were experienced and the trial was terminated early. Another study used a non-hormonal pill which was well tolerated by the men and had no adverse side effects. Though the research is still sparse, these studies suggest legitimate and effective male birth control is absolutely possible.
However, even if such an option were accessible, would women trust men to take such measures? Though one group is keen on the idea, saying “we already give birth,” other women on campus sway towards the negative, mentioning that men already disrespect the use of the condom and that they are not the ones that will experience the repercussions of pregnancy.
Nevertheless, the freedom of choice in determining if and how women take birth control is undoubtedly important in this day and age. For some, it has massively improved their quality of life, health, and reduced fears around pregnancy, whilst for others it has done the opposite. Above all, it is worth reflecting on this liberating invention from all its angles, acknowledging the potential of what modern day science might achieve for women and men globally.