One year after the start of the pandemic, a new consequence has emerged. In fact, the birth rate is the lowest in recent years: in January and February, 13,000 children were born in the Spanish state less than in 2020, which is 23% less.

Faced with the first sarcastic and infantile representations, the couples who were inside the house did not look with happiness at the future, but many have had worse than was originally thought. Among the reasons behind this, I should like to point out four. First, there is a lack of desire for the situation generated by the pandemic.

Secondly, young women have many obstacles to carrying out the model of motherhood they want, as several feminist studies have shown in recent years. In general, women have fewer children than they want and more adults than they want. These difficulties affect 70 per cent of women.

Thirdly, in recent months, treatments for women benefiting from assisted reproduction have been discontinued. This directly affects mothers, lesbian couples and women with reproductive problems, who are unique fathers.

Finally, social conditions have gained more weight than ever: precariousness, crisis of care, deficient public policies of support for care, lack of measures to combine paid work with household care…

We are facing a serious crisis and it is time to take action before it is late: 0-3 universal and free cycles, possibility not to make the income declaration jointly, measures against companies with poor working conditions, tax increases... Of course, all of this will not get us out of the hole from the crisis of care, because to do so we will have to do a great political job. In any case, if care is not important and we do not fight for a society that puts life at the centre, not only do we not appear mature as a society, but we will destroy ourselves materially and if we raise our eyes, we will see no more than darkness.