If you’re a woman in your 20s or 30s, particularly if you’re in a long-term relationship, you’ve probably been asked when you’re going to have children. In the UK and many other countries, there is a clear societal expectation that women will eventually become mothers.
Many people feel pressured to have children by their own parents, who look forward to having grandchildren. Parenthood as the default life trajectory is evident in films and television, and even in public health recommendations.
A draft report from the World Health Organisation in 2021 caused an uproar when it suggested that all women of child-bearing age should avoid alcohol in case of becoming pregnant.
