Judging by superficial appearances, it seems like if you heard that a German got a facial and waxing, that German would be more likely to be a man than a woman (see the movies of Doris Dörrie for confirmation). Some say that the polarity of sex has been reversed, others that when women become more completely self-sufficient and adequate unto themselves, men take on an effete "drone" role, which simply encourages the women to continue on their own course.
Europeans have fewer frontiers to pioneer and obstacles to overcome than people in other countries, so it's natural that men have retreated into hedonistic consumerism or the cultivation of emotional sensitivity. Being the father of a family doesn't seem to be very highly regarded or respected a position. Women find that they can be more independent and like it, and this suits committment-phobic men just fine. And when the state seems to provide the security that the family once did, it's all the less reason to procreate.
European unity, after centuries of wars and conflicts, is quite an achievement, but somehow the accomplishment doesn't seem as inspiring as it once did. Unification looks more like the last sigh of an expiring civilization than a springboard to a creative renaissance.
Post #37: Outstanding blog quality analysis.
how dare you inject a serious and well-thought post into an otherwise frivolous and fun thread???
(all pose of badgering aside, that was quite insightful)
I keep thinking of the thing that Peggy Noonan wrote that Lady Thatcher told her - "You must stay strong". I could almost hear the implications of what Thatcher meant - Europe is dying; if Western Civilization is to survive, it will be because of the United States.