Is Egg-Freezing socially viable in India?

Many companies are coming up with several Women – Centric options to retain Female – Talent. Though Female employees come with their specific Pros and Cons to any Industry, they hold special place due to many corporate reasons.

Naturally women have physiological limitations, which compel them to lesser Job Hops and hence better Job Stability. Emotionally as well, it is difficult for Female employees to change Offices and co-workers very often. This brings them up in the list of reliable work force.

Thus, to balance Career ambitions and Physiological Limitations, Apple and Facebook have announced Egg-Freezing Benefits to their Female workforce. Though it sounds pretty interesting on how far companies can extend their support to retain talents, is it really viable option in India? How practical is it in India where social structure revolves around Family, not career? Could there be better options?

We in India, diverse in religions, cultures have one thing in common – Family. You belong to any religion, any caste, illiterate or highly educated family; an Indian believes to see a Woman to be seen as Family-maker primarily, and then Career - oriented. Is there anything wrong with that? Depends, how you are going to think about it.

Socially, it is seen as every living creature’s responsibility to reproduce in order to take the generation forward and hence ensure survival of Human Race. Religiously, it is like paying off debt to your predecessor who brought you, your parents in this world, by taking forward their values, beliefs forward. Scientifically, you are passing on your genes, which may have attributes that world can use.

And there is only one gender of Human Race who can take it forward are - WOMEN.

Thus, at least in India (and, maybe other Countries as well), Women carry lot of responsibility on their shoulder for survival of Human Race.

So, how is the mind set in India?

A Girl should get married at earliest when they are 23 – 24 & before she hits 30, have first kid before 30, and then things are set.

Reason –

Whether these things are culturally rooted, there is also science involved. Fertility in Women declines with Age. It starts dropping when one hits 30 and over 35 years, it drops down more steeply due to Ovulation problems. Younger you are better chances to conceive.

There is one more perspective to it is – early you have Kid, you can well plan their Education, Marriage and other stuff before self – retirement. Delay in having child, more burdens towards your retirement time. And, everyone wants to see their kids well – settled before they retire and dedicate themselves to God.

Now Egg-Freezing is savior to overcome Ovulation Problems, but does it make sense to Indians socially?

Majority of Indians believing in four Ashrams viz. Student life, Household life, Retirement, and Renunciation; extended Household life will mean delay in Retirement and hence Renunciation.

Practically and Personally, I believe that few things are better done at appropriate times instead of being dependent on Technologies.

I honestly believe ‘Egg Freezing’ is good option and pretty nice gesture. But, there could be better options like taking care of Medical Expenses, More Flexibility, betterment of Remote work conditions, Gender & Pay equality; so that they don’t even have to worry about being Pregnant. 

Do I sound like an Old lady singing age - old Melodies? Maybe, but do you have better and nicer Tune?