Future Babies

1b. Positioning

Futuring is analysing the present to allow us to determine all different futures possible. This allows us to plan ahead for the worst or even the best. “The past quickly fades into a condition of indistinctness, while the future is a void” (Tony Fry). Inayatullah (2008) has spoken about 6 pillars that can help you structure the future of your desires. These six pillars are mapping, anticipation, timing, deepening, creating alternatives and transforming. All pillars contribute into the future although below I will focusing on mapping in regards to fertility.

The mapping consists of timing. Inayatullah speaks about how three aspects that will help us develop a plausible future. Pull to the future, push to the present and the weight of history. Working through all three aspects helps you with the first pillar of creating your desirable future.

Figure 1. Outlines the theory of Inayattulla.

Egg Freezing was originally used and developed for the preservation of eggs of oncology patients commencing cancer treatment, in modern times this method is an established fertility preservation technique. Studies show that the demand for freezing eggs has tripled in just 5 years. This is because more women are choosing to work or study than to raise a family, these numbers have changed dramatically over the years.

Technology has evolved throughout the years, the technologies that have been developed allow a woman of almost all ages to fall pregnant. Women along with the help of doctors are able to freeze their eggs and use them when the right times comes. This gives women the power to map out their desired future.

Video 1. This clip visualises the empowerment women have mapping there own future when it comes to fertility. there respective of the present “ticking biological clock”

With these pros some cons follow, many statistics have shown that older women who have undertaken egg freezing have ended up with false hope due to many pregnancies leading to stillbirths as well as the inability to fall pregnant even with insemination. In this instance, it will be beneficial to offer an immense amount of counselling and information regarding these procedures to ensure the patients are fully aware of these cons that are present. Another negative attribute is the costly aspect behind this procedure, which would accumulate to thousands of dollars including the cost of keeping the eggs and a specified freezer Djerassi qouted “fertile professional women in richer economies is predicated on what Djerassi called the “mañana [tomorrow] generation”. This further ensures that women are aware that the future is a mystery and different avenues need to be considered.

Reference

Mertes, H, Pennings, G 2011, ‘Reproductive BioMedicine Online‘, Elsevier, vol. 23, no. 7, pp. 824-829.

Browne, J 2018, ‘Technology, Fertility and Public Policy: A Structural Perspective on Human Egg Freezing and Gender Equality’, Social Politics, vol.25, no.2, pp.149-168.

Inayatullah, S. (2008) “Six pillars: futures thinking for transforming”, Foresight, Vol. 10 Issue: 1, pp.4-21, https://doi-org.ezproxy.lib.uts.edu.au/10.1108/14636680810855991