one more response to this old topic, but with an actual feminist sf
example, a story by Eleanor Arnason that deals, in part, with birth
control: "A Ceremony of Discontent" in _The Women Who Walk Through Fire_,
edited by Susanna Sturgis. The Crossing Press, 1990
Why is a person *selfish* if she chooses not to have kids? I have never
understood this argument. It seems to imply that it is everyone's duty to
procreate (though I understand that that's not what Melanie meant to
suggest), or that the decision to not have children somehow hurts or takes
something away from someone else. Or that all truly Good and unselfish
people "naturally" want children. Seems to me that the single best thing
I can do for the planet (including all the children currently on it) is to
not add another person to the mix, especially not, as in my case, another
US citizen, since many of us have the honor of using up more resources per
person than the rest of the world.
Arnason's story contains a tale about the woman who found the plant that
will prevent pregnancies, and this quote sums up my attitude toward the
decision to be childless:
[Ashotai is presented with two apparently identical plants to choose from;
after some investigation, she finds that one tastes wonderful and the
other tastes sour and bitter.]
"Ashotai sat down and thought. Finally she said, 'The plant I seek will
give people the ability to choose. And every real choice is bitter. If
you choose to do one thing, then you lose the chance to do other things
that may be just as pleasant or interesting. Because of this, it can be
said--in every choice is the seed of regret, like the sour pit or core of
a fruit. I think the bitter plant is the one I seek.'"
The choice to not have children is as much a sacrifice of possibilities as
the choice to have them--so why should one choice be considered more
selfish than the other? Even for the "Tinks" in Melanie's story. How
would they be less selfish if they added a child to all their belongings
and extravagancies? If they *do not want children*, why is it selfish not
to have them?
*************** ********************
Heather Whipple Humanities Librarian
hwhipple@script.lib.indiana.edu Swarthmore College
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