“I still believe that oneday the gestation period should be designed to occur outside of a woman’s body. Imagine each individual as being engineered to be temporarily sterile, unless they choose to be otherwise, and the reversal back to fertility can be achieved basically at anytime.”

Nice idea in many ways, nasking. I worry though about the inevitable lunatic fringe who will decide that such exowombs mean that women are entirely unnecessary once their eggs have been harvested (while still in the exowomb).

And those who would deny access to artificial wombs for “unworthy” people (people with disabilities? Poor people? People with “not good enough” genes?). Also: how is this reverse engineering to be performed? If it requires access to a healthcare practitioner who is willing to perform the procedure, how does that HCP decide who gets access, and when, and what it costs? Reproductive choice and the assaults in it can swing in all directions.

I can’t help thinking Bujold linked the notions of artificial wombs and restrictive parenting examinations and licences for a reason; Beta Colony wasn’t exactly a utopia.

Then there are the technical barriers. Anyone who thinks we could soon come anywhere near close to developing anything resembling uterine replicators needs to spend some time in a NICU (or any ICU, come to that) – and anyone who thinks they’ll be resource-viable soon after the tech being developed needs to see some ICU bills.

As I interpret it, feminism is about women having choices about what paths they choose to pursue and how they combine those options, not ‘having it all’. Men who work 70 hour weeks while their wives look after the house and family don’t have it all either – they don’t have the kind of close relationships that need time and hands-on engagment to nurture.

Hausegger et. al have the brains to have a basic knowledge of biology and the human body (as I remember it, part of the argument is that no one ever told them that you can’t have babies much after 40, and that it’s harder and riskier post-35). If they chose to ignore those things or changed their minds later, that’s not the fault of feminism. That’s life. It may be sad, but it’s not Germaine Greer’s fault.

no shit sherlock.

and if our adult lives comprised the dreams of our 17-year-old brains
what a mess the place would be.

Howard was indeed a sneaky sh*t. I agree Helen. If he’d been given the chance he’d have you chained to the fridge or oven & giving birth to wee ones at a hot pace. Thank gawdness the nation woke up & kicked his old-fashioned arse back to civilian life, where he can read about his 1920s -1950s heroes all he likes w/out imprinting it on the Australian society.

I’m just a House Pet Friend. Retired teacher. I made my partner S’ lunch yesterday & today, must keep it up…get so tired sometimes. Distracted.

I packed her homemade bread sandwiches filled w/ hummous & tomatoes (today)…& yesterday, swiss cheese, tomatoes & french mustard (her fave) and added sliced Kiwi fruit, washed & polished apple & strawberries, banana, and a handful of cashews & almonds.

After fresh mandarin slices & a cup of Irish tea S’ went on her merry way to work whilst I got down to cleaning, paying bills, gardening, commenting on blogs, adding to personal projects, replying to family emails & other calls…& feeding our demanding cats.

When S’ gets HOME I give her a herbal tea & she then has a shower & settles in to talk about her day…& mine… & smiles when chatting about her nutritious lunch. I try to give her a HUG a day. She deserves it.

It’s not always so SWEET…& harmonious. But its worth trying. If only governments would plan & impliment policies based on the recognition that partners, families, extended families, gay families, individuals, could live far more harmonious lives & be more productive if they felt RECOGNISED, and were given more OPPORTUNITIES.

Most people are Workhorses who need to be less burdened.

However can I say here as a father. (that somewhat resents his loss of freedom that he had before children) that Joanna Murray-Smith touches on an issue which I think is a very important gender issue. If fathers were more involved in the day to day caring of their children would mothers be less resentful about being unable to combine careers with motherhood? Are fathers still getting the better end of the deal?