Women—the Impact of Advances in Fertility Control on Their Future: A Presidential Address

Abstract

It was not until the era of the pill in the 60s that absolute control of reproduction was a reality. With the present technology we have the potential to accomplish the demographers ideal of 2 children per family thereby theoretically making it possible to have every child a wanted child. The author feels that the next goals should be both an improvement of the quality of the progeny as well as education of women to be productive in the role of individual as well as reproducer; thereby being better mothers. Legalized adoption leads to dropped prematurity rates which shows the effect of one sociological change on another. 1 of the future considerations should be the investigation of the ideal environment for raising children. The fulfillment of the individual should also be studied. In order to raise better children who only become human some time after birth we need better preparation for motherhood and fatherhood. There is also a need to provide alternative outlets for the people who choose to have a small family or no children. Fetal growth should be studied more thoroughly in order to insure the quality of the 2 children.