The power of the womb
"Do they now recognise our value?"
Two weeks ago, I attended a women’s health networking event. At the event, I sat on a table with five other individuals that comprised of two other ladies and three gents. As we waited for our food to be served, I struck up a conversation with one of the gents who was sat to my right. He introduced himself and told me he was a biomedical scientist who helps develop fertility products for women. I also then introduced myself, and told him I was a healthcare professional working in the NHS, and also an author who mainly writes on topics and issues pertaining to women. After we had gotten the introductions out of the way, he immediately hit me a very interesting but weird question. “So why are you modern female folk not popping out babies like our mothers did back in the day?”.
I must say that the question caused me to freeze for a good minute. Am surprised I didn’t turn into a block of ice. I didn’t know where to begin, so I asked him to elaborate further so I could understand why he asked the question in the first place. He mentioned about the decline in birth rates in countries such as South Korea, China, Spain and the steady yearly decline here in the UK as well. I am well aware of the decline in birth rates in various countries around the world because I keep up with women’s issues by reading and doing research. It has become my bread and butter to do so, but also because I am a staunch advocate for women’s health and wellbeing.
The decline in birth rates, although it is not at catastrophic levels yet, is still a concern for many governments across the world. People might be tempted to think this is a good thing for the environment when there are fewer people, but actually this is not the case in this instance. The decline posses a threat to economies across the world. There will be many older people than there will be younger people. “So guess what?” there will not be many active bodies to keep the work places churning, which will in turn mean less money in the economy through taxes. Not only that, systems such as healthcare, hospitality industry, social care etc will crumble because there will be less people to take care of sick and frail people, no one to pull pints at the pub and serve food in restaurants, you get the gist. In short, the human race as we know it will become extinct if the birth rates continue to decline.
As our conversation carried on, he seemed to be angry at women without really taking into consideration what was turning them away from popping more babies out as he put it. He seemed to be angry at feminists. He actually called feminists “modern female Nazis”, which I must say I found very offensive. I don’t consider myself a feminist, but I was definitely angry on their behalf for being described in such a nasty manner. I told him perhaps if he took the time to fully understand why women were not giving birth like they did before, he might soften his stance. I cited factors such as high living costs, limited housing, intense work culture, gender inequality, delayed marriages due to lack of suitable mate or career ambitions, debt levels etc as some of the reasons women are choosing not give birth.
He acknowledged to some extent that some of the reasons were valid, but still stuck to his guns that feminists and their fight for equality was the main driving factor. Because of them, he said women prefer to concentrate on education, career and making money, instead of what nature intended them to do. I pointed out that if women had these rights from the get go, they wouldn’t be hell bent on keeping their rights now that they have them. I mean, women had to fight to have the rights we have now, and ain’t nothing going to let us give them up. And I must say I am wary of such thoughts because if things continue on this trajectory, which seem like they will, our rights will be in danger. “Who is to say the government wouldn’t take up our rights and force us to start procreating more and more. I have watched Handmaids tale, and I can’t help but think that it would happen some day.
The way I see it, its high time governments and society acknowledge the impact that women have. our wombs are precious commodities. I mean to the point that governments across the world are giving women all sorts of incentives to pop out more and more babies just to keep humanity ticking along. From money being thrown, to promotions at work, few working hours, benefits increased, household help etc, all in a bid to keep wombs active. So in a sort of way, governments and society know that we are of value. Women are now being called upon to help save humanity. And yet my heart hurts me when we are treated like we have no value at all. From sexual discrimination at work and in society, domestic violence, rape etc.
I hope governments and societies all over the world start to realise the value we bring to the table, and they start to treat us much better than they do now. Or if you don’t, then I suggest you invest millions in popping out babies from artificial wombs.