The bizarre sexual politics of the French

‘More sex please, we’re French,’ declared, in effect, France’s president Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday, demanding that his compatriots counteract a catastrophically collapsing birth rate. France’s fertility is at its lowest level since the end of World War II — perhaps ironically, since the French consider themselves the world’s greatest lovers.

Macron has announced a ‘demographic rearmament’ for the country including free fertility checks for young people and a new paid maternity and paternity allowance. New parents, including fathers, will be able to take three months off and be paid half their salary up to €1,900 which could cumulate to a baby bonus of €11,400 per family. Will it really make much difference?  

This being the état bénévole par excellence there is already an alphabet soup of allowances associated with parenthood — the ‘prestation d’accueil du jeune enfant’ (Paje), a ‘prestation partagée d’éducation de l’enfant’  (PreParE) and an ‘allocation journalière de présence parentale’ (AJPP).