Critics label as ‘absurd’ idea from government-backed thinktank as country seeks to address population decline

A government thinktank in South Korea has sparked anger after suggesting that girls start primary school a year earlier than boys because the measure could raise the country’s low birthrate.

A report by analysts at the Korea Institute of Public Finance said creating a one-year age gap between girls and boys at school would make them more attractive to each other by the time they reached marriageable age.

The claim is based on the idea that men are naturally attracted to younger women because men mature more slowly. Those women, in theory, would prefer to marry older men.

  • BeMoreCareful@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    3
    ·
    5 months ago

    So the idea is that if the girls were a year younger, but in the same grade, they’d be more likely to get married? I assume not in high school. I am having trouble wrapping my mind around the concept here.

    • Eheran@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      5 months ago

      Many live long connections are made in school. I assume it is perfectly correct that woman like older men and that this would work to get more of the individual kids in classes together. But would it change anything in the budget picture? How? That would mean the woman stay single after leaving school. Then that is the issue.