The Big Lie: Motherhood, Feminism, and the Reality of the Biological Clock

The Big Lie: Motherhood, Feminism, and the Reality of the Biological Clock

by Tanya Selvaratnam
The Big Lie: Motherhood, Feminism, and the Reality of the Biological Clock

The Big Lie: Motherhood, Feminism, and the Reality of the Biological Clock

by Tanya Selvaratnam

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Overview

A candid assessment of the pros and cons of delayed motherhood.Biology does not bend to feminist ideals and science does not work miracles. That is the message of this eye-opening discussion of the consequences of delayed motherhood. Part personal account, part manifesto, Selvaratnamrecounts her emotional journey through multiple miscarriages after the age of 37. Her doctor told her she still "had time," but Selvaratnamfound little reliable and often conflicting information about a mature woman's biological ability (or inability) to conceive.Beyond her personal story, the author speaks to women in similar situations around the country, as well as fertility doctors, adoption counselors, reproductive health professionals, celebrities, feminists, journalists, and sociologists. Through in-depth reporting and her own experience, Selvaratnamurges more widespread education and open discussion about delayed motherhood in the hope that long-lasting solutions can take effect. The result is a book full of valuable information that will enable women to make smarter choices about their reproductive futures and to strike a more realistic balance between science, society and personal goals.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781616148454
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date: 01/07/2014
Pages: 368
Product dimensions: 6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Tanya Selvaratnam is a writer, a producer, an actor, and an activist. She has produced the projects of many artists and directors, including Chiara Clemente, Catherine Gund, Mickalene Thomas, Carrie Mae Weems, and Jed Weintrob. She has performed around the world in shows by the Wooster Group and the Builders Association, among others. Since 2008, she has been the communications and special projects officer for the Rubell Family Collection. As an activist, she has worked with the Ms. Foundation for Women, the Third Wave Foundation, the NGO Forum on Women, and the World Health Organization. Learn more at http://tanyaturnsup.com.

Table of Contents

Introduction 11

1 A Would-Be Mother's Lament 13

2 What Is the Big Lie? 35

3 What the Experts Wish You Knew 53

4 Decisions, Decisions 79

5 The limits of Evolution 95

6 Baby Madness and the Media 117

7 The Roller Coaster 131

8 The Global Landscape of Infertility 159

9 Friends with Kids and Friends Without 185

10 The Power of Optimism 209

11 Action Items for the Future 225

Epilogue 247

Suggested Resources 249

Acknowledgments 267

Notes and Sources 269

Bibliography 315

Index 349

About the Author 368

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