{"id":649,"date":"2025-06-06T09:01:05","date_gmt":"2025-06-06T09:01:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/freestyleacademy.rocks\/~NateK\/?page_id=649"},"modified":"2025-06-06T16:55:31","modified_gmt":"2025-06-06T16:55:31","slug":"narrative-visual-perspective-in-english","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/freestyleacademy.rocks\/~NateK\/narrative-visual-perspective-in-english\/","title":{"rendered":"Narrative Visual Perspective in English"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Our task during our Narrative unit in English class was to write a research paper about a current day issue that we are interested in. This was a formal essay using many different sources, and I believe it was our replacement for a senior thesis. I ended up writing my research paper about low fertility rates in the US and restricting women’s reproductive autonomy. This idea stemmed from the idea of population decline in many major countries all over the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here is the essay:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nate Kelly<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr. Greco<\/p>\n\n\n\n

English IV<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6 December 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why restricting women\u2019s reproductive autonomy is not a solution to America\u2019s declining population<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many large, developed countries all over the world are experiencing a decline in population. Population has peaked in 63 places, including China, Germany, Japan, and Russia. This is due in large part to women, on average, having fewer children. The world\u2019s overall fertility rate \u2013 the average number of children that would be born to one woman if she lived through her childbearing years \u2013 is dropping. Women are having one fewer child on average than they did around 1990.  This global trend among developed countries is especially evident in countries such as Spain, Italy, China, and Korea are experiencing ultra-low fertility rates, all below 1.4 births per woman (\u201cGrowing or shrinking\u201d). To put this number into context, \u201ca fertility level of 2.1 births per woman is necessary to avoid national population decline over the long run\u201d (\u201c9.7 billion on Earth\u201d). This trend is also evident in the United States. America\u2019s fertility rates have reached another historic low, decreasing by 3% from 2022 (CDC). The United States population is expected to peak at 370 million in 2080 (United States Census Bureau). Many Americans, including the government, are worried about the potential consequences of the declining population, searching for solutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After almost 50 years of precedent, the Dobbs v. Jackson Women\u2019s Health Organization (2022) Supreme Court case overturned the ruling of Roe v. Wade (1973). This meant that abortion was no longer legalized in all 50 states, leaving the decision up to the states. Leading up to this decision, the general fertility rate in the US has been trending downward for the past 17-years due to things like economic concerns, cultural shifts, evolving views on family life, etc. Additionally, the U.S. has an aging population; there are fewer working-age adults and more elderly. This is raising concerns for the government as the government will have to pour more taxpayer money into social programs such as Medicare and Social Security instead of spending it elsewhere (Sherburne). With this increasing threat and strain on the government, the societal and systemic pressure on women to have children rises accordingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While many think that stricter abortion laws will help solve the steadily decreasing fertility rates in the US, in reality, they will only restrict women’s reproductive rights, ultimately not solving the declining population as the main factors are changing attitudes towards childbearing, shifting gender roles, availability of contraceptives, and economic hardship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/strong>As younger and more progressive generations and ideas emerge, societal attitudes toward childbirth have shifted significantly, often reducing the pressure traditionally placed on women to have children and allowing women to pursue aspirations beyond family-life. With the changing views on childbearing, the stigma surrounding not having children is decreasing. According to Sarah Hayford, PhD, MA, director of the Institute for Population Research at the Ohio State University claims that, \u201cNot having children, or having fewer children, is becoming more socially acceptable\u2026 As a result, people are weighing more carefully the decision to have children\u201d (qtd. in Steinzor). Furthermore, studies conducted, one by the New York Times, show that many women want more children than they eventually have. Catherine Pakaluk, Ph.D \u201810, a Catholic University economist and mother of eight, calls this phenomenon the \u201cfertility gap\u201d (Perfas). It is hard to determine all the factors that factor into why this gap exists, but the choice for women to decide how they balance family and personal ambitions definitely has a role. Pakaluk explains, \u201cPeople are choosing the bundle career and family, and in this constrained world there\u2019s only so much time\u201d (qtd. in Perfas). Since women no longer have to give up marriage or partnership to pursue a career or sacrifice their goals to have a family, they have more of a choice. Many women opt for both, ultimately leading to a little bit less of each.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some will argue that many women still feel pressured by traditional expectations and gender roles to prioritize motherhood over personal related goals. And while this still applies to many women, the increasing acceptance of women being able to choose what they do with their time, shows that our society and the attitudes of many are evolving in favor of increased autonomy for women. The push towards more progressive gender roles has allowed women to define their priorities while fighting against systemic barriers such as the wage gap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/strong>Furthermore, <\/strong>with the increasing availability of contraceptives in well developed countries, such as the United States, women have more control over the decision of whether or not to have children. One piece of legislation that has greatly impacted this is the Affordable Care Act (ACA). In 2011, the ACA was put into effect, allowing contraception to become more accessible. Most private health insurance plans are now required by the ACA to cover contraceptives without out-of-pocket costs (Dreweke and Nash). Providing women with more widespread access to contraceptives increases women\u2019s bodily autonomy, once again giving them more of a choice when it comes to childbearing. Access to contraceptives have played a major role in changing attitudes and roles in American society. The widespread availability of birth control options empowers women to make decisions such as when they want to start a family or if they choose to start one at all. The way Pakaluk puts it, \u201cIn the past, if you wanted to go to college or have a profession, you had to give up marriage and partnership\u201d (qtd. in Perfas). But with a larger choice set, women can postpone childbearing to pursue personal ambitions, giving them more freedom to step outside of traditional gender roles and societal pressures. Ultimately, increased contraceptive access has had an impact on decreasing fertility rates in the U.S. as childbearing becomes more of a question amongst women, as they now have more control over their bodies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/strong>Building on this idea, it is getting harder for many Americans to earn living wages with things like increased student debt, causing many to feel unprepared to start families until reaching a place of financial stability. The impacts of college debt on young Americans are at an all-time high. Pamela Smock, a research professor in the Population Studies Center at the University of Michigan, shares, \u201cIn a project I worked on for about 15 years, young adults were telling us they would not feel \u2018ready\u2019 to marry if they have debt\u201d (qtd. in Sherburne). Additionally, the financial situation is not just limited to the decision of having a kid, but also staying married as well as other aspects of family. With the economy in a state of struggle, many people do not feel prepared or comfortable to be able to start families. This is not just limited to Americans with college debt. With the decline in manufacturing and offshoring of jobs beginning in the 1970s, it has been harder for people without college degrees to earn a living wage (Sherburne). This goes to show that Americans, regardless of their level of education, are struggling to make enough money to where they feel comfortable to start a family. Yet this fails to acknowledge that many still pursue and prioritize having families at a young age despite financial challenges. However, the impacts of Americans who decide to wait until they are free of economic hardship or the burdens of student debt still greatly impact the overall fertility rate in America.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/strong>Lastly, <\/strong>the government putting pressure on women to have babies and limiting women\u2019s reproductive rights will dissuade many from having children. Historically, women have fought for the expansion of their rights from the 19th Amendment that gave women the right to vote, to the decision of Roe v. Wade that protected abortion as a fundamental right. I believe that the holding of the Dobbs v. Jackson Women\u2019s Health Organization (2022) will lead to similar reactions from women all over the country until it is overturned. The Dobbs’ decision could have repercussions for people’s reproductive autonomy, reshaping attitudes toward becoming pregnant, sexual activity, contraceptive strategies, and access to necessary health care (Friedrich-Karnik and Kavanaugh). Justices Breyer, Kagan, and Sotomayor criticized the Supreme Court for unsettling nearly five decades of precedent and undermining the Constitution\u2019s promise of freedom and equality for women (Alito). The overturning of Roe v. Wade could be counter intuitive in regards to declining fertility rates as women begin to protest. With the government putting more and more pressure on women to have children due to social programs like Social Security and Medicare being put in danger, women may decide to go against government wishes (Sherburne). While some may assume that by not protecting abortion at a federal level would lead to an increase in fertility rates, it only will hurt America\u2019s fertility rates in the long run. In a research study conducted by Georgia Tech\u2019s School of Economics, they observed that there was a 2.3% increase in birth rates on average in states that banned abortions in comparison to states without bans. This statistic may lead people to think that limiting abortion access is beneficial in increasing our fertility rates, however, just two years after the Dobbs\u2019 decision, the U.S. has returned to historically low fertility levels (CDC). This shows that the increase in births after the Dobbs\u2019 decision was a misleading short-term effect as new research shows that in the long-term, fertility rates are continuing to decline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In conclusion, restricting women\u2019s reproductive autonomy is not a solution to the declining fertility rates in America. There are a plethora of factors that are contributing to the slowing population, which means we need to take a different approach to solving this issue. Instead of the government putting pressure on women to have more children and limiting reproductive rights, we should make parenting a less daunting endeavor by making child care more affordable, making work more flexible, and increasing availability of childcare and daycare options for parents (Nargund). By making parenting easier for young adults in America, we can positively encourage family-life and childbearing without putting unnecessary pressure on women and stripping them of their rights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Works Cited <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alito, Samuel. Dobbs v. Jackson Women\u2019s Health Organization.<\/em> National Constitution Center, constitutioncenter.org\/the-constitution\/supreme-court-case-library\/dobbs-v-jackson-womens-health-organization.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. \u201cHistoric Low in U.S. Birthrate Revealed in New Data.\u201d CDC Press Room,<\/em> 25 May 2024, www.cdc.gov\/nchs\/pressroom\/nchs_press_releases\/2024\/20240525.htm<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dreweke, Joerg, and Elizabeth Nash. \u201cHas the Fall of Roe Changed Contraceptive Access and Use? New Research in Four U.S. States.\u201d Guttmacher Institute,<\/em> Feb. 2024, www.guttmacher.org\/article\/2024\/02\/has-fall-roe-changed-contraceptive-access-and-use-new-research-four-us-states<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dreweke, Joerg, and Elizabeth Nash. \u201cU.S. Abortion Rate Continues to Drop: State Abortion Restrictions Are Not the Main Driver.\u201d Guttmacher Institute,<\/em> Sept. 2019, www.guttmacher.org\/gpr\/2019\/09\/us-abortion-rate-continues-drop-once-again-state-abortion-restrictions-are-not-main<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Friedrich-Karnik, Amy and Megan L. Kavanaugh. \u201cHas the fall of Roe changed contraceptive access and use? New research from four US states offers critical insights.\u201d Guttmacher Institute, <\/em>2 Feb. 2024, https:\/\/www.guttmacher.org\/article\/2024\/02\/has-fall-roe-changed-contraceptive-access-and-use-new-research-four-us-states<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Georgia Institute of Technology. \u201cThe Impact of Dobbs: How Reproductive Policy Changes Affect Birth Rates.\u201d Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts,<\/em> Dec. 2023, iac.gatech.edu\/featured-news\/2023\/12\/dobbs-impact#:~:text=They%20found%20that%20 states%20with,have%20happened%20if%20Roe%20vs.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nargund, G. \u201cEducation\u2019s Role in Family Planning.\u201d PubMed Central,<\/em> Nov. 2014, pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC4255510\/#:~:text=A%20regular%20and%20open%20education,through%20education%20in%20secondary%20schools.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Perfas, Samantha Laine. \u201cU.S. Fertility Rates Tumbling, but Some Families Still Go Big \u2014 Why?\u201d The Harvard Gazette,<\/em> 11 Nov. 2024, news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/story\/2024\/11\/u-s-fertility-rates-tumbling-but-some-families-still-go-big-why\/.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sherburne, Morgan. \u201cWhat\u2019s Behind the Falling U.S. Birthrate?\u201d University of Michigan News,<\/em> www.news.umich.edu\/whats-behind-the-falling-u-s-birthrate\/<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steinzor, Pearl. \u201cU.S. Birthrate Reaches Historic Low, New CDC Data Reveal.\u201d The American Journal of Managed Care,<\/em> 25 May 2024, www.ajmc.com\/view\/us-birthrate-reaches-historic-low-new-cdc-data-reveal<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

United Nations. \u201c9.7 Billion on Earth by 2050, but Growth Rate Slowing, Says New UN Population Report.\u201d United Nations,<\/em> https:\/\/www.un.org\/en\/academic-impact\/97-billion-earth-2050-growth-rate-slowing-says-new-un-population-report<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

United Nations. \u201cGrowing or Shrinking? What the Latest Trends Tell Us About the World\u2019s Population.\u201d United Nations,<\/em> https:\/\/news.un.org\/en\/story\/2024\/07\/1151971<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

United States Census Bureau. \u201cPopulation Projections.\u201d United States Census Bureau,<\/em> www.census.gov\/programs-surveys\/popproj.html#:~:text=The%20U.S.%20 population%20 is%20 projected,to%20366%20 million%20in%202100.&text=The%20U.S.%20 Census%20 Bureau%20will,the%202023%20National%20 Population%20 Projections<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Surreal Composition<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Digital Media we were tasked to then make a surreal image to represent the issue that we highlighted in our research papers. Mine is pretty straightforward to how it connects to the paper. The women covered in chains represents the restrictive actions that have been taken by the government to influence birth rates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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My artist statement: <\/strong>My Worldbuilding research essay I wrote in English was about why limiting reproductive rights is not a solution to the declining fertility rates in the US. In my\u00a0surreal\u00a0art, I try to represent the feeling many women feel with the overturning of Roe v Wade in the Dobb’s decision, and to show how this limiting of their personal freedoms is wrong. In my essay, I provide many reasons why America’s fertility and birth rates are declining and how we can go about solving this issue in a way that does not limit women.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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As I reflect on my Surreal Composition and research paper, I definitely did something that I never anticipated I would do. The concept of world population decline was what caught my attention, but Mr. Greco advised me to delve deeper into women’s reproductive rights in the US. This ultimately was an interesting and helpful project as I learned a lot and now have a greater perspective into why the world’s population growth is slowing and the hardships women face due to that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eventually, we took what we had learned from our research essays and formed groups for our real Worldbuilding project. For this, I teamed up with Elai and Brad to create a world. Here is our logline: The weak son of a hero fights to prove his worth after sneaking on an important mission to save the city’s heir from the evil Lord Agravain. To learn more about the world we created, you can watch my Worldbuilding presentation below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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