terra firma

2 frozen eggs please….

It was interesting to read this bit of news. Apparently, several young women who are unable to pursue maternal instincts due to a range of issues, now have the opportunity to freeze their ova in advance and perhaps latter, attempt to conceive. This will have two broad groups in various states of emotions: the women’s support groups and the ethicists.

Obviously, this is a huge development in terms of choice for women. Let’s face it, the world is an unequal place. Gender equality is still a long way off, despite women often leading the world in several domains and dimensions. True, the likes of Indira Nooyi have worked their way to the top, but when a Meira Kumar becomes the first woman to be speaker of the Indian Parliament, it is seen as more ‘bestowed’ than earned.

In such a situation, where when it comes to the crunch (of for eg, looking after the child), its often the woman who has to go part time or quit or put her career in the backburner – haven’t we seen it happen in our own homes, families and immediate society.

Will the ability to be able to have children at a time when the woman is ‘ready’ (in all other terms except perhaps biologically) set the woman free to pursue other interests with the passion that they really want to? Only time will tell.

Then there will be the Church of Scientologists, ethicists and religious groups that will have a different take on this subject, including perhaps if this is in some way an ‘interference’ in the natural way things are ought to be? I don’t buy that argument – we interefere in the natural scheme of things even for everyday living – starting with exploiting the earth for coal and water to the Space for minerals.

It will be interesting to hear what women themselves have to say, given that I will never be able to exactly feel or imagine how they would feel about this issue.