The Luxury Trap: Economy versus biology
Biologically, the quality of our eggs is at its peak by the time we reach puberty, approximately at age fifteen. Physically, the body is at its strongest to carry out a pregnancy in the early twenties. After that, the eggs’ potency gets poorer and poorer by the day. I have now reached my late twenties. It’s going downward from here on out, and this has of course started to concern me.
The average age of a Norwegian woman having her first child is increasing every year, especially in the cities. The government has made a significant distinction in the financial support they give to the different groups of people in society. For instance, if you’re unemployed, you will get a single payment of 46 000 NOK. But if you have a permanent full time job, you are offered approximately the same amount of money as your salary during your maternity leave. This is obviously one of the reasons why women postpone pregnancy. Biology and economy is in great contrast to each other. Your gynaecologist may say go, when your wallet says no. At the same time as the government economically “forces” you to delay having children, they have lowered the maximum age for getting assisted fertilization because of its great demand. So, what do you choose: Career or family?
Performance artist Marina Abramović said in an interview that she’s had three abortions, as children would be a disaster for her work. She claims that there is only limited energy in our bodies and that she didn’t want to share it. She also states that children are the reason why female artists are less successful in the arts than men. Even Judy Chicago, the artist behind “The Birth Project”, said: “There was no way on this earth I could have had children and the career I've had.
Do female artists who choose to have children, do so at the risk of becoming poor artists? Or is this a prejudice that we should get rid of once and for all?