Alarmed by the nation's dwindling birthrate, a government task force recently came up with a plan to distribute so-called women's handbooks as a means of encouraging young women to have children.

The plan, however, faced harsh criticism for treating pregnancy, childbirth and child-rearing as matters that concern women only. Eventually, the task force was forced to shelve the plan for the time being.

But the government need not look far in its quest to create a more well-rounded booklet.