Blame the Girlboss?
The article discusses the debate over declining fertility rates in the U.S. and challenges the notion that feminism or 'girl-boss' culture is to blame. Instead, it highlights falling marriage rates as a key factor and explores whether younger generations are shifting toward more traditional family and religious lifestyles. The conversation also touches on how cultural and economic shifts, including the impact of the pandemic, have influenced family formation.
- ▪Fertility rates in the U.S. have declined since 2007, when 4.3 million babies were born, dropping to about 3.6 million today.
- ▪Approximately three-quarters of the decline in births since 2007 can be attributed to a decline in marriage rates.
- ▪The term 'girl boss feminism' has evolved from Sheryl Sandberg's 'lean in' era to a more ironic or broad usage encompassing various working women.
- ▪Conservatives once criticized rising non-marital births, but now face a reversal as fewer people marry and have children at all.
- ▪The discussion includes the impact of COVID-19 on family planning and potential cultural shifts toward traditional values among younger generations.
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Blame the Girlboss? 15 15 Victoria Holmes / May 2, 2026 The Skiff Listen on your player of choice Text Size Members can share articles with friends & family to bypass the paywall. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Threads Email 0 Open and scroll to the comments section Episode Transcript Victoria Holmes talks with Patrick T. Brown, a fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, about the rise and fall of girl-boss feminism, the birth rate collapse, and whether a new generation is returning to a "traditional" lifestyle. Victoria Holmes Victoria Holmes is an associate multimedia producer at The Dispatch and is based in Washington, D.C. Prior to joining the company in 2022, she worked as a TV news reporter and podcast host.
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