Brazil's Population
Intent of Population
Population control programs were instituted in the 1960's, but in the 1970's, the higher class people in Brazil agreed with the antinatalist policies and promoted the use of family planning. The government made it more accessible for low-income families to access contraception and inform people about the use of contraception. The pronatalists usually were more in favor of population redistribution policies.
Brazil's rapid urbanization, including having more woman in the workforce and focusing on careers, has had an impact on the population as well. Women are more focused on having a career and building up to a high job position and less focused on having kids.
Women and men who watch soap operas have also reconsidered having a big family. The families in soap operas are small and charming, which is very appealing to the low-income families and to really anyone. Everyone wants the perfect family, and to most that is portrayed in soap operas with few children, sometimes even none.
Intent of Immigration
The people that live in the more rural and poorer places often migrate to the city, where the finances for a big family are a struggle for most. The families wrestle with the problem of not having enough money to pay for their families, and there are few jobs that those people are qualified for.
Brazil has the largest Japanese population outside of Japan, as well as a high population in Europeans, Latin Americans, and the Middle Eastern people. As of 2017, about 736,000 immigrants are located in Brazil, which is the third-largest foreign-born population in South America. Most people in Brazil have a relative that is an immigrant, and they themselves are usually descended from immigrants.
Venezuelans and Bolivians find shelter and asylum in Brazil as they run from economic and political problems. Haitians also migrate for economic and humanitarian reasons. Between 1975-1990, about 200,000 Koreans migrated to Paraguay and Bolivia, and then moved over to Brazil. More than 10,000 Koreans now live in Brazil, not including the descents. The Brazilian government instituted programs for unregistered immigrants in 1980, 1988, 1998, and 2009.
Effects of Populations
The antinatalist people in the 1970's helped the decrease in the population, along with informing people about the dangers, diseases, and the precautions that have to be taken with sexual activity.
Women who are in the workforce don't have many children because of their ambitions, careers, and goals in life. This is because kids will make their lives much more complicated and overwhelming while they are working and if they do end up having kids the average for Brazilian woman is 2.
Those that watch soap operas are highly likely to have very few children because of their dreams of having a small and perfect family. This has been portrayed in soap operas and telenovelas for decades, and so it is very implemented in the minds of those who watch these shows that if you want are charming and glamorous life, you either have very little kids or none at all. This has played a huge role in the fertility rate decrease in Brazil.
Effects of Immigration
The people with less money that move to the city often cannot afford it and become more poor. This highly impacts the increase in population, because of the many families and people migrating to the city.
The amount of immigrants from foreign countries is very high, also making the population grow even more. Their family members that are located in their home countries move to Brazil so that they can also live with their relatives, increasing the population.
The immigrants from countries with a struggling government increase during times of war and poverty. Venezuela shares a border with Brazil, and considering their political and economic problems, they move to Brazil where it is safer for them. Because they share a border, it is easier for people to move into Brazil and so the population continues to grow.
Effects of Migration
There is a major economic factor for the migration in Brazil. The Amazon rain forest is one of the Seven Wonders of the World, and also provides a large amount of the world's oxygen. It has been around for centuries, and a fire last year burned a big chunk of it down. The governor is currently telling people to worry about their own countries instead of what he is doing with his; he doesn't care what the world says about his actions with the Amazon. People and countries trade less with Brazil because they don't like what they are doing with the Amazon, and so there is less for the citizens to use and choose from. Since the Amazon was burned last year, they still continue to cut down trees.
Effects of Sex/Gender
The problem in Brazil is that it is a hot spot for human and sex-trafficking. There are less women there due to homicide or being taken away because of sex-trafficking, and so it is unsafe for them to be there as well. Brazil, because of their culture, favors males over females, and so different problems can occur because of that. Selective abortion can happen if the parents did not get the gender that they wanted, infanticide, neglect, and unequal treatment.
Ways to Promote and Discourage Population Growth
Brazil can promote population growth by giving a day off for couples to... you know, like in Taiwan. If Brazil wants to discourage population growth, they can make it easier to have access to contraception and family planning, while continuing to inform people about sex (sex education). Brazil can also enforce a more strict immigration policy so that the population is at a more constant and accurate state.