We all know that nations across the globe, the United States included, are experiencing a fertility crisis. Women are not having enough children to keep populations constant, and this is sure to put a massive strain on our economies and governments in years to come.

It’s also common knowledge that a large part of the reason women have fewer children these days is that we have greater educational and professional opportunities than we had in the past. As women have been empowered, we’ve chosen to pursue our careers at the expense of producing more offspring and have generally found great satisfaction in doing so.

It seems that we are nearing a crossroads. We can either continue giving women the chance to pursue their own happiness or find a lasting solution to the problem of chronically low birth rates by encouraging and incentivizing women to have kids.

But is this really the case? Is it true that we must choose between allowing women to live more fulfilling lives and ensuring that our populations don’t collapse?

Not if you ask me. Contrary to conventional wisdom, in my view, women would actually feel more empowered and fulfilled, not less, if our lifestyles were more conducive to having children.

Before getting into all the reasons why women should shift our focus from our professional to our private lives, I should preface by stating that I am a 24-year-old, childless woman. I’ve benefited greatly from having the educational and career opportunities that I do, and I don’t plan on giving them up anytime soon.

However, I do want children, as do 41% of American women under 35. Although the average........

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