French President Emmanuel Macron has sparked outcry after announcing a "major plan to combat infertility".
France's birth rate last year dropped to the lowest it has been since World War Two (according to census data), and President Macron believes, "France will only be stronger if it revives the birth rate."
But some of his plans to improve the country's birth rate have been met with backlash, as campaigners are pointing out there are several reasons why someone may choose not to have kids.
Under the plans, "a new, better paid parental leave will allow both parents to be with their children for six months if they want," as Macron announced during a press conference. Free fertility check-ups will also be offered for everyone regardless of gender aged 25.
However, Anne-Cécile Mailfer, president of Fondation des Femmes (the Women's Foundation) said "Leave our uteruses in peace," on X (formerly Twitter).
"A 46-year-old cisgender man with no children comes to give us lessons on how we should use our uteruses," added campaigner @jeneveuxpasdenfant on Instagram.
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In case you were wondering, France has a higher fertility rate than several nearby countries, including the United Kingdom.
That being said, it's important help is available for anyone struggling with fertility (in the UK, around one in seven couples may have difficulty conceiving). But, let's also remember not everyone may want children a) while we're living through a climate crisis and a cost-of-living crisis, or b) at all (and that's totally okay).
Amber O’Connor is Cosmopolitan UK’s former junior features writer, who covers everything from breaking news, women’s safety and real life features to fitness, travel, and cultural trends. She works on first-person features, reports, and long reads, plus the hottest stories of the day (if you want to know about the latest wellness craze or TikTok trends, she’s your girl). Amber has previously worked as a reporter and a lifestyle writer, with her work appearing in numerous publications, including The Mirror, Red Magazine, Evening Standard, Indy100, and Yahoo News. When she’s not working her way through her TBR list, Amber loves dancing, running, and going on adventures with her dog.
