The Art of Waiting audiobook cover - On Fertility, Medicine, and Motherhood

The Art of Waiting

On Fertility, Medicine, and Motherhood

Belle Boggs

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Health & Nutrition

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The Art of Waiting
Cultural Narratives & Contradictions+
The Evolutionary Drive+
The Reality of Infertility+
The Complexities of Adoption+
Extreme Measures (IVF)+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 6
Despite millennia of cultural conditioning that promotes fertility and child-rearing, what is the reality of modern human reproduction according to the text?
  • A. Humans have relatively few children compared to other animals, successfully reducing birth rates.
  • B. The worldwide average has skyrocketed to over six children per woman due to religious influences.
  • C. Women in developed nations are entirely abandoning the use of contraception.
  • D. Birth rates have remained perfectly stagnant since the earliest known fertility artworks were created.
Question 2 of 6
What did contemporary sociologist Anna Rotkirch's study on 'baby fever' in Finland suggest about the desire for children?
  • A. The desire is entirely a byproduct of societal pressure and cultural expectations in high-fertility countries.
  • B. Only individuals who grew up planning to have children experience the phenomenon of baby fever.
  • C. The sex drive is the only actual instinct, making a separate childbearing instinct biologically redundant.
  • D. There may be a deeper biological imperative, as even people who did not want children experienced the involuntary urge.
Question 3 of 6
How does the reality of infertility contrast with common societal misconceptions?
  • A. It is widely believed to be a male issue, but it predominantly affects women.
  • B. It is often dismissed as a white, upper-middle-class problem, but it disproportionately affects minorities and the poor.
  • C. It is viewed as an incredibly common issue, whereas statistics show it only affects one in every fifty couples.
  • D. It is generally supported openly by friends and family, despite being classified as 'disenfranchised grief.'
Question 4 of 6
What horrific historical practice regarding fertility was carried out by 33 American states starting in the 1920s?
  • A. The forced separation of newborns from poor families to supply the adoption industry.
  • B. The mandatory implementation of early in vitro fertilization trials on vulnerable citizens.
  • C. The active attempt to sterilize their poorest and most vulnerable citizens, often through coercion.
  • D. The criminalization of all forms of birth control and contraception for minority groups.
Question 5 of 6
Why is adoption not a simple 'silver bullet' for those experiencing infertility?
  • A. There is a massive surplus of newborns, making the selection process overwhelming for prospective parents.
  • B. It is an inexpensive process, but the legal requirements strictly forbid infertile couples from participating.
  • C. The process is complex, highly expensive, and there are far fewer newborns available than prospective parents.
  • D. Most adoption agencies strictly require parents to adopt older children rather than newborns.
Question 6 of 6
Which of the following best describes the reality of undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) in the United States?
  • A. It is a heavily subsidized procedure that guarantees a successful pregnancy within the first cycle.
  • B. It is a grueling, highly expensive process rarely covered by insurance, often costing tens of thousands of dollars.
  • C. It is a simple, affordable alternative to adoption that requires very little physical preparation or medication.
  • D. It is primarily utilized by those who wish to avoid the emotional complexities of traditional pregnancy.

The Art of Waiting — Full Chapter Overview

The Art of Waiting Summary & Overview

The Art of Waiting (2016) details the social narratives surrounding birth, pregnancy and parenting. These blinks offer poignant personal anecdotes alongside historical examples to shift the spotlight onto the often unheard stories of adoption, in vitro fertilization and forced sterilization.

Who Should Listen to The Art of Waiting?

  • Expectant mothers
  • Couples struggling to conceive
  • Anyone considering adoption or in vitro fertilization

About the Author: Belle Boggs

Belle Boggs’ stories and essays have appeared in Harper’s, the Paris Review, Orion, Slate and many other publications. She is a professor in North Carolina State University’s MFA program and the author of Mattaponi Queen.

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