Western Society, Childfree by Choice, and Tokophobia A societal assumption that pregnancy and parenthood are part of the natural life cycle shrouds both the tokophobia population and the childfree-by-choice community. Because of this assumption, people choosing not to be parents often feel misunderstood or excluded. Likewise, very few evidence-based resources are available to address fears about pregnancy and childbirth, even for women who would like to have children. It is often assumed pregnancy should be met with excitement, not with a whole range of emotions.
To the surprise of no one with internet access, surely, we're still in a birthrate crisis. What with ecological collapse, incipient fascism, geopolitical instability, the lack of support for new parents, childcare costs and more, bringing new life into the world requires a radical act of hope. And who's feeling that these days? Plus, even if you do want children, pregnancy feels kind of risky at the moment.
The idea is that declining birth rates are not just an economic issue but a fundamental threat to national identity and continuity, which has emboldened some dangerous ideologies.
