Hey Look, Infertiles are Blogging
This article features quotes from some of my favorite bloggers. Julie of A Little Pregnant and Melissa from Stirrup Queens and Sperm Palace Jesters. (see my blog roll for even more)
While the article points out the popularity of infertility blogs, it fails to really address the blogtavism (blogger activism) that is taking place out here. While these are certainly part of it, we do more than:
…relay every medical moment, every disappointment and every shred of hope they find in their attempts to have babies.
They share tips on injecting fertility drugs and freezing embryos. They commiserate about insensitive queries from friends and family members, and seek out “cycle buddies” whose ovulation and fertility treatments align.
Community is a huge piece of blogging about infertility. Agreed. And for many of us, it allows a sometimes anonymous outlet to express things and topics we haven’t dared breach with family and friends for a number of reasons.
But delve deeper into blogs like Stirrup Queens and you will find couples who have created businesses and online shops simply to fund their adoptions or fertility treatments as well as letter and story writing campaigns like Twelve and a Half Fighting Back. Read others and you will hear about scholarship funds and other ways to manage the outrageous financial burden that can be the price of wanting to have a child. We do more than just banter, y’all.
The article admits, “For many, blogs allow for some black humour.” But really, you haven’t even seen funny until you see Julie’s depiction of her last mammogram.
The article says that Stirrup Queen’s Melissa “competes with dozens of others and, like its competitors, has a growing core of loyal readers. ”
Actually, there are hundreds, not dozens. And you know what? It’s not a race. The one with the most readers doesn’t get the baby. We are not competitors. We are allies. We are sisters. We are friends. And we are all working hard to support each other, keep ourselves sane, and perhaps educate Joe Public and his Congressfolk about infertility while we’re at it.
Better ask somebody.
Tags: A Little Pregnant, advocacy, awareness, blogtavism, Community, fertility blog, funny, infertility, stirrup queens
3 opinions for Hey Look, Infertiles are Blogging
Julie
Nov 27, 2007 at 9:47 pm
Yes! When the reporter asked me what I thought the future held for infertility blogging, I mentioned activism. I wish that had made it into the article, because it’s absolutely true — we are strongest, both emotionally and politically, when we consider ourselves compatriots rather than competitors.
Mel
Nov 27, 2007 at 11:54 pm
Interesting–I talked about the activism too. And using blogging to build community and bond together. Josh cracked up over “competitors.” It sounded like we were fighting over a single, perfect prom dress at the rack at the store. Sort of doesn’t even make sense when you look at the way we do come together. Over 1025 blogs on the blogroll and I don’t think I’ve even cracked the surface of what is out there. I find new ones daily. Blogs–IF blogs–have been there for years. It just took better search engines to bring them out.
Gabrielle
Nov 29, 2007 at 12:12 pm
Julie and Mel, thanks so much for sharing your thoughts on the article. I’m saddened to hear that the activism piece of it was so willingly ignored, but so thankful to have you both out there, sharing your stories, exposing the myths and being funny as hell while you’re at it.
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