Pronatalism, a Conversation with Nandita Bajaj and Michele Goodwin | Ask a Feminist Podcast
From OVERSHOOT | Shrink Toward Abundance by Population Balance
May 5, 2026 · 44 min
About this episode
The episode discusses the historical and contemporary implications of pronatalism and its ties to patriarchy and racism.
Pronatalism is the oldest form of reproductive control. Population Balance Executive Director, Nandita Bajaj, joins fellow guest and legal scholar Michele Goodwin and host Shoshanna Ehrlich in this republished episode of Ask a Feminist, a podcast from the Signs Journal. They discuss the rise of patriarchy and pronatalism in the first empires, the racist and eugenicist history of pronatalism in the U.S., and why 'progressive' pronatalism must be resisted as forcefully as pronatalism from the right. Highlights include: How pronatalism arose with patriarchy in the first states and empires to serve economic, nationalist, religious, and expansionist state goals; How pronatalism has historically been shaped by racism, classism, and eugenicist beliefs - with some people encouraged to reproduce and others discouraged; How pronatalism and 'fertility crisis' rhetoric has been embraced not only by racist, anti-immigrant far-right advocates but also by mainstream liberals and progressives who advance growthist, supposedly 'pro-family' agendas; Why pronatalism, as a primary feature of patriarchal control, must be challenged by anyone committed to feminist principles. See episode website for…
People in this episode
Host: Shoshanna Ehrlich
Guests: Nandita Bajaj, Michele Goodwin
Topics covered
- pronatalism
- feminism
- patriarchy
- reproductive control
- racism
- eugenics
- population
Keywords
- pronatalism
- feminism
- patriarchy
- reproductive rights
- racism
- eugenics
- population control
- fertility crisis
- progressive agendas
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Population Balance, Ask a Feminist, Signs Journal
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