"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."
"At the same time, our culture looks at pregnancy and childbirth with morbid curiosity. Graphic dramatizations of pregnancy and childbirth are common in the media. For example, the birthing scene in the movie Knocked Up depicts the mother-to-be screaming and begging for an epidural. These depictions may shape our ideas about pregnancy more than actual experiences or scientific facts. Undoubtedly, this can contribute to fear"
Tokophobia is an intense fear of pregnancy and childbirth that can affect people who want children and those who do not. Primary tokophobia occurs in people who have never been pregnant; secondary tokophobia follows pregnancy. Cultural pronatalism assumes pregnancy and parenthood are natural, creating misunderstanding and exclusion for both people with tokophobia and those childfree by choice. Few evidence-based resources address fears about pregnancy and childbirth. Media often dramatizes birth with graphic portrayals that can shape beliefs about pregnancy more than lived experiences or scientific facts. Trauma history and multiple factors can contribute to developing tokophobia; treatments and supports vary.
Read at Psychology Today
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