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This First-Year Seminar course will explore how 21st century childbearing conditions have changed, and the relationship of politics to these changes. Among the topics to be discussed are the impact on male and female infertility of assisted reproductive technologies that promote birth, including in vitro fertilization and intracytoplasmic sperm injection. But beyond how these technologies function, such topics as how decisions are/should be made about issues such as the acceptability of using genetic material from someone other than the hopeful parents to aid couples in having children will be addressed. Also to be discussed are how genetic technologies can be used to modify sperm, eggs and embryos, including risks, benefits, ethics and politics, and how, when and whether stem cells obtained from in vitro fertilization “leftovers” can be used. The ways in which these new approaches are perceived by the general public and by politicians, and how these perceptions affect the use of the new approaches, will be explored. Topics also will include whether abortions should be disallowed, allowed only under specific circumstances such as fetal anomalies observed during prenatal screening, or available as a women’s (or couple’s) right to choose. Contraception, both female and male, also will be explored. Thus, in addition to the science, this course will focus on when and how decisions are made regarding issues related to childbearing, including the roles of politics and social media.