Fruits of Our Labor
In my dissertation, Fruits of Our Labor: A Qualitative Model of (In)Fertility, I draw on in-depth interviews with adults transitioning to parenthood in the U.S. Since early 2025, I’ve had conversations with women and men across this transition, from planning their first pregnancies, to managing infertility care, to navigating life with newborn children. I contextualize these interviews with surveys, short interviews with fertility care providers, and participant observations at community events for expectant parents.
Overall, I find that young adults complete many types of labor – physical, cognitive, emotional, relational – to make their fertility goals happen. For these adults, (future) parenthood is aspirational, meaningful, and highly desirable. It also uncertain, potentially risky, and intensive.
Overall, participants’ reflections shed light on what it is like to become a parent in the U.S. right now. Their stories also highlight how policymakers, care providers, and researchers can work towards making parenthood more accessible for people who want children.
Kaitlin H. Joshua 