Includes bibliographical references (pages 147-150) and index.
Contents:
7. It's life. The physical and emotional impact of having children: Mommy in the supermarket, Mommy at home, Mommy at work, Not what I bargained for, The mother-child relationship turned upside-down, The road to Hell is paved with good intentions, Nuclear fissures, The new mid-life crisis, Where's daddy?, Frustrated, frazzled and furious -- 2. Honey, what's happening to us? : The impact of children on a personal relationship: Marla's story, Lisa's story, Ellen's story, Martha's story, Diana's story, Not-so-wise conventional wisdom. And baby makes three, Sleeping together, literally, Number one, Ships passing in the night, Born yesterday, I'm right; you're wrong, Stranger in our midst, They're gone!: Marital bliss and the joy of motherhood -- 3. Mom's talents down the drain : The impact of children on career and livelihood: That's life, A mother of the future: almost, A mother of the past, A mother of the present: out of the workforce, Another mother of the present: out of the workforce, A mother of the present: in the workforce part-time, A mother of the present: in the workforce full-time, A mother of the present: in the workforce full-time, sort of, Hitting the baby ceiling, The loss that keeps on losing, A recipe for disaster, Motherhood as escape hatch, The choice that Isn't a choice, What's wrong with this picture?, "What's wrong with me? I don't have kids," The invisible helping hand, The ultimate guilt trip, Who's sorry now? -- 4. Hey, who am I? : How motherhood limits and defines mom as a person: Helen's story: and a question, Crisis of identity, The no-return policy, who am I?, The building blocks of the family, A metaphor for the self-sacrificial mom -- 5. The money pit : The financial cost of having children: Paying for love insurance, Paying the day-to-day costs, Paying for Mr. Wrong, Deep pockets, The endless money siphon, Paying for their bad choices, What not having it all really means -- 6. Godzilla mom : When motherhood harms the child: The police blotter, A city story, A suburban story, A small town story, A television story, A jet-set story, A homeless story, A tabloid story, Dirty little secrets, Going it alone, That's my baby!, Unplanned parenthood -- 7. Trashing our world : The environmental and human impact of having children: Ga ga over babies, Choosing human extinction, It's not just their problem, A most unpleasant question, Consider adopting, The "urge" to reproduce, It's life.
Summary:
The Last Taboo' makes the case against having babies despite fierce, centuries old pressure on women to legitimate themselves through motherhood. Motherhood is the most important issue for a woman since it impacts everything in her life and exerts incredible pressure. This alternative, saying no to babies, will be welcome to women who are considering having babies, who are not sure about children, who don't want to have children but feel they must, who resent pressure to become pregnant, and who feel stigmatized for not having had children. Feminists, environmentalists, progressives will also benefit, as will academic programs in women's studies and family. The glorification of motherhood is everywhere in the media. 'The Last Taboo' breaks ground in questioning the motherhood 'requirement' and its glorification, while testifying to the harm motherhood regularly does to (1) women (their relationships, finances, careers, self-identity, physical energy), (2) unwanted children (half of all pregnancies are unplanned), and (3) the human species and environment (whose very existences are threatened by excessive reproduction.) For too long, women have been consigned to a life not suited to all, or even most women in the modern era, an era reeling under the environmental devastation of overpopulation. Women are not obliged to have children, despite great pressures. Motherhood is not a prerequisite for being a 'real' woman.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.