Baby Politics

I just got back from Baby, the spring musical from the IC Theater Department.

*WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD*

While I do have to congratulate the actors, actresses, pit crew members and everyone else who made the overall production professional, I have to admit, it wasn't my favorite show--and not just because it was a bit underwhelming.

The entire plot is a bit dated in its old-school heteronormativity (three straight couples try for a baby, eliminating gay couples and single parents, not to mention multi-racial parents since all three couples are white, from the baby-makin' scene).

But besides that, the storyline seems to validate the love and strength of these heterosexual relationships based on marriage and reproduction. The fact that ideas of wedlock and pregnancy remain central to the development of a strong relationship seems to leave a lot of people out from the world of parenting and partnerships.

All three couples struggle in their journey to have a baby. One of the couples--a young pair still in college--fret over whether marriage is necessary for a child and how to handle finances. Soon enough, their troubles evaporate once they decide to get engaged and realize their baby is the fused collaboration of their love.

Another couple that loses a baby through a miscarriage realize they never loved each other and have to "start over" again--this after TWENTY years of marriage? Why did it take the failure to produce offspring to come to this realization?

The remaining couple struggles with getting pregnant in the first place due to insufficient sperm and irregular cycles, but decide they will keep trying for a baby because their love is strong enough to persevere.

Look, I know, the show's called baby, so why am I complaining about them wanting one? I'm not. Really!

However, I don't understand why reproduction has to remain tied to notions of marriage and "good" love. These couples aren't just thinking about babies -- they are all at some point very invested in having one. Even when they second guess themselves, the immediately pick the baby option. Why is everyone so quick to assume they want children? What kind of messages and options does this provide the audience ?

Furthermore, why does the success of a pregnancy or conception seem to determine whose relationship works out? Why was abortion never integrated into the theme? Why did the young woman in college who was against marriage change her mind (without much contemplation) based on the idea that her husband was fused together with her in the form of prenatal biology?

One of the songs in this show says their "stories will go on." My main question here is: whose stories?