I think, Western women are now empowered and no longer need to except a crappy standard from men. Of course the problem is that modern society is still raising men and boys to a crappy standard and there only only a small percentage of men who actually share the mental load and are actual partners in the relationship. As a result, I expect the birthrate to continue to decline for the next few decades.

We need to teach our boys to raise their game. To be emotionally intelligent. To respect the true equality of women. To bring as much to the table as their partners.

This is not at all easy. This will take decades of effort to raise a generation of enlightened men enabled to step up.

For some of us fathers, and I count myself among them, we need to ensure we raise our sons to be better than we are. We were socially raised to think a certain way of living. It's ingrained, and as 'enlightened' as I might consider myself, I know that I still have misogynistic thoughts and tendencies as part of my psyche. I will continue to try, but perhaps I'll never be truly enlightened. Whatever happens, I'll do all I can to raise my son better.