Description

The essay is dedicated to the “strike of the wombs,” a phenomenon that has concerned the world since ancient times. It used to be a utopia or an imaginary horror story. But in the 20th century, women in the Western world unexpectedly began this strike for real. And now we all have to live with its consequences.

Demographers, sociologists, politicians, and economists trying to understand this phenomenon often ignore feminist arguments. This is a mistake, according to Élisabeth Badinter, because it ignores the quiet and deep rebellion of women, manifested in the refusal of motherhood — whether temporary or principled and final.

This essay is also relevant for Belarus, where, as in all of Europe, the birth rate is critically declining. After 2020, the Belarusian authorities did not publish data on birth and death rates for four years. Only recently did Belstat share information for 2024, which does not look optimistic.

CONTENTS

Introduction

Chapter 1. State of Affairs

Chapter 2. What Demography Says

Chapter 3. The Trap Revolution

Chapter 4. Conflict of Two Legitimacies

Conclusion

Slowing Down the Consequences of Declining Birth Rates and Respecting Women’s Rights Appendices

Translator’s Afterword

The Last Enlightenment Woman