This article has been circulating online today: Apple, Facebook to Women Employees: Keep Working, We’ll Pay to Freeze Your Eggs.
Immediately after I read it, I posted my reaction to my Facebook wall:
“As much as I believe in a women’s ability to choose her life path, I struggle with this concept. I would never recommend fertility treatments to anyone who did not medically need them. IVF (or even egg freezing) is not easy on a woman physically or mentally. If we are going to approach fertility from the scientific standpoint that age doesn’t matter, then maybe we should first consider Government funding for those who medically suffer from the disease know as infertility. It’s difficult for me to grasp the concept of my treatment not being funded, yet companies are stepping up to encourage women to delay their fertility which poses higher risks and no guarantees. On top of that, what kind of message are we sending to women? Can you not have a successful career and become a mother at the same time?”
I should not be as surprised as I am.
I would love to read the internal publications that promote these programs. I would love to read the fine print and see how much they are actually funding, what are the caveats, what are the loopholes.
This is not empowerment. This is another sign of society condemning women for embracing their femininity, their womanhood and their birthright to be a mother.
This is enslaving women to their jobs. It’s taking away their choice to become a mother when THEY desire. It’s potentially ostracising them if they do not pursue their career path first.
Because as much as they SAY that won’t happen, we all know it will.
They try to sell it as a positive choice, but really they are promoting a high-risk scenario. They are encouraging women to look to science to solve their fertility woes instead of letting their bodies do what they were naturally built to do. They are encouraging putting drugs in your system and enduring invasive procedures “just because it’s easier for your career”.
Is it really easier for you? Who paints the picture of what fertility treatments are ACTUALLY like?
The disease of infertility leads so many of us to pursue treatment. Yes, we have a choice to accept treatment or not, but for most of us, it’s not a matter of choice. We will not conceive without fertility treatments.
It’s too soon to be promoting “fertility treatments by choice” when infertility is barely recognized and hardly funded.
What will happen to the infertility industry if a drawn our fertility timeline becomes the societal norm?
I think we need to take a step back here. I’m all about women’s right and women’s choice, but this jaded infertile feels like this issue needs some more thought put into it first.
Awaiting Autumn 