Study: Don’t want civilization to collapse? Give women equal rights

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 16:42:00 +0000

There are more than 7 billion people in the world right now, and the United Nations estimate that number will grow to nearly 9.2 billion by the year 2050. It's a prediction that left Stanford biologists Paul and Anne Ehrlich feeling pretty apocalyptic. Why? The population scientists say that the eventual collapse of our civilization is being driven by overpopulation and overconsumption by -- wait for it -- the very wealthy.

Their proposed solution? Empower women.

Studies of the planet's ecological footprint show that sustaining modern rates of consumption will require roughly an additional half planet of resources (or, four to five more Earths if everyone in the world consumed at the level of the United States).

So give women equal rights, the Ehrlichs say. Not just because women who control their reproductive choices tend to have fewer children, healthier families and greater life expectancy (although research suggests this is true), but because "This will allow us to include more of their brainpower to help solve these problems," according to the pair.

Salon.com > women's empowerment

Study: Don’t want civilization to collapse? Give women equal rights