Ellen Peck’s infamous 1974 book “The baby Trap” was the first time I ever heard of the word “pronatalism”. Once I read the definition and began to see how social expectations, media, the arts, and religion suggest normalcy as becoming a parent, I went on a hunt to find proof pronatalism existed. I found, and still find, ads in magazines and TV selling their products with children depicted.That product may have nothing to do with children but there they are! I’ve heard songs echo great love, joy and fulfillment about having children. Only recently did a song speak of abuse (Crystal Bowersox, “Farmer’s Daughter”) or parents needing a drink raising teenage daughters. (Martina Mcbride, “Teenage Daughters”) Weddings are seen as the start of a family of more than two when people don’t even know if the couple want, should have or can have children!
Are you aware of pronatalism? I invite you to watch your TV ads. What is the product or service being “sold”? Is it directly related to children or are children in that ad used to suggest it’s the goal of every person on this planet? Are the children all pretty, sweet, adoring? What’s being sold other than the product?What pressures have you felt through pronatalism?
In m book, “Confessions of a Childless Woman”, I share how my life was threatened and how I lost my beloved career of teaching for 16 years as a result of pronatalism.
