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Coventina

(29,731 posts)

95. But apparently no respect for women who find "motherhood" a definition of "real woman" hurtful.

Reply to Kaleva (Reply #84)

Tue Aug 8, 2017, 02:00 PM

Aug 2017

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Serena Williams on having a baby: "I'm about to be a real woman now" [View all] LittleBlue Aug 2017 OP

So, is she saying that women like me, for example, who wanted children so passsionately but The_REAL_Ecumenist Aug 2017 #1

First, so sorry for your loss Bettie Aug 2017 #20

I am so sorry for you losses. (eom) StevieM Aug 2017 #71

Agree, a grossly insensitive thing to say. Coventina Aug 2017 #40

My own infertility struggles not withstanding, Neema Aug 2017 #98

I think it's a weird by-product of reduced family sizes. Coventina Aug 2017 #99

I think you're right. Neema Aug 2017 #132

Don't even get me started. Coventina Aug 2017 #136

Vent all you want. I totally get it. Neema Aug 2017 #139

"fertile privilege" --I love it! Coventina Aug 2017 #142

Or lsewpershad Aug 2017 #129

Or who choose not to sweetroxie Aug 2017 #149

Most definitely agree!! Being a woman is not at all equivalent to being a mother. Coventina Aug 2017 #150

In the same boat sister and it pisses me off. Also when folks say "you don't know true love until Neema Aug 2017 #57

You don't know true frustration Bettie Aug 2017 #76

I feel the same Neema. SouthernIrish Aug 2017 #86

Just the circle of life Redlineoverdrive Aug 2017 #2

C'mon... AlexSFCA Aug 2017 #3

Sometimes people say things madaboutharry Aug 2017 #4

She's been competing since a teenager Mosby Aug 2017 #66

her whole career she's been the target of hurtful comments eShirl Aug 2017 #109

She's happy BeyondGeography Aug 2017 #5

Uh oh: Laffy Kat Aug 2017 #6

That explains torius Aug 2017 #7

I don't know. Seems to me that the feeling of becoming a real woman is different for everyone chowder66 Aug 2017 #8

I think you are confusing 'becoming a woman' with 'becoming an adult'. SharonClark Aug 2017 #25

I think some see them as interchangeable whether it's correct or not. nt chowder66 Aug 2017 #82

Every woman has the right to define who they are and what makes them uniquely woman RestoreAmerica2020 Aug 2017 #9

+1 applegrove Aug 2017 #10

Thank you. It's interesting, because elehhhhna Aug 2017 #12

Thread win (nt) Orrex Aug 2017 #14

Yep malaise Aug 2017 #38

+2 Kaleva Aug 2017 #75

Since she said "I" and was only speaking for herself... FM123 Aug 2017 #108

Agree, leave her be. She's happy and has every tight to express her feelings. Dream Girl Aug 2017 #117

Look, she's got baby on the brain, and this is a cringey thing to say elehhhhna Aug 2017 #11

Plenty of women who struggle with infertility or who just choose to not have children might care. Neema Aug 2017 #58

Only if they care what a random athlete they never met thinks elehhhhna Aug 2017 #92

I don't care what a random athlete thinks. But I do care what gets accepted as general truth, Neema Aug 2017 #96

This may sound awful but I will share what I know about top class athletes elehhhhna Aug 2017 #100

I totally agree with everything you're saying. Neema Aug 2017 #107

Okay I get you elehhhhna Aug 2017 #118

Thanks. Neema Aug 2017 #133

word. nt TheFrenchRazor Aug 2017 #146

I agree with you Madam Mossfern Aug 2017 #111

Thanks Madam Neema Aug 2017 #113

Me too get the red out Aug 2017 #115

I absolutely do not believe Neema Aug 2017 #134

When this quote gets thrown back in women's faces gratuitous Aug 2017 #68

I would remind those people that Serena is an outstanding athlete and elehhhhna Aug 2017 #93

Awww I see what you are doing here. Kingofalldems Aug 2017 #13

Awww, you support the Nationals LittleBlue Aug 2017 #85

What do the Nats have to do with anything? Kingofalldems Aug 2017 #116

Your comment was irrelevant to the OP, so I'd rather discuss baseball LittleBlue Aug 2017 #119

Maybe Jesus will intervene. Kingofalldems Aug 2017 #127

You mean lord and savior Harper LittleBlue Aug 2017 #159

Inartful but I give it a pass. WhiskeyGrinder Aug 2017 #15

Serena Can Have RobinA Aug 2017 #16

A real woman. tavernier Aug 2017 #17

She's 35. SharonClark Aug 2017 #26

I'm 70. tavernier Aug 2017 #29

They aren't? kwassa Aug 2017 #55

You mean they aren't?! lunatica Aug 2017 #88

My dad who died at 91 a few years back tavernier Aug 2017 #143

It isn't?! lunatica Aug 2017 #145

From a mans perspective. Weekend Warrior Aug 2017 #18

As a woman who can't have children I deal with this kind of crap all the time Lee-Lee Aug 2017 #19

I get it for having had c-sections Bettie Aug 2017 #21

My wife went through that with the fertility treatments tymorial Aug 2017 #30

Oh yeah Madam Mossfern Aug 2017 #114

Yep. Same here. Neema Aug 2017 #59

"She didn't mean it" "she's young" Lee-Lee Aug 2017 #123

"It's just locker room talk." "Boys will be boys." Neema Aug 2017 #140

Can I ask a question? LittleBlue Aug 2017 #87

Now that I'm in my 40's it's not Lee-Lee Aug 2017 #120

Gotcha LittleBlue Aug 2017 #122

So we are supposed to think she's insulting other women? nini Aug 2017 #22

Whether she meant to or not, she did. n/t Coventina Aug 2017 #45

YOU chose to interpret her words your way nini Aug 2017 #50

Nope. If a male athlete said he was about to become a "real man" because he had Coventina Aug 2017 #53

It wouldnt phase me a bit if a man said such a thing Kaleva Aug 2017 #63

Fine, but they don't get to define what being a "real woman" is. Coventina Aug 2017 #74

Apparently that is her goal and that is what she feels defines her. Kaleva Aug 2017 #77

No, she was identifying herself as entering a pre-existing group/ideal of real women Coventina Aug 2017 #79

Again, it's her definition Kaleva Aug 2017 #84

But apparently no respect for women who find "motherhood" a definition of "real woman" hurtful. Coventina Aug 2017 #95

I imagine that the words and actions of empowered women can be hurtful to others Kaleva Aug 2017 #155

Hurting others is not empowerment. Coventina Aug 2017 #160

at least she didn't threaten to kill another line judge in the middle of a match miyazaki Aug 2017 #65

And just a thought exercise, what if Ivanka Trump had said this? smirkymonkey Aug 2017 #78

Agreed. It is incredibly hurtful for those of us who have no offspring. Coventina Aug 2017 #80

Thank you. Neema Aug 2017 #101

Dear God/dess don't even get me started on the platitudes! Coventina Aug 2017 #104

It's also pretty tiresome to live in a society that tells a woman she's "less than" until Neema Aug 2017 #61

I agree with that overall nini Aug 2017 #72

I agree that I don't think she meant anything by it, Neema Aug 2017 #89

Sing it, sister. I've had so many miscarriages that I gave up counting them. Coventina Aug 2017 #73

Yup. You really do. Neema Aug 2017 #91

A stupid thing to say, but without a history of saying similar mythology Aug 2017 #23

It's not a stupid thing to say, if that is what she believes. SharonClark Aug 2017 #24

You're right, it's only a stupid thing to believe. Towlie Aug 2017 #28

As a one off statement from an excited expectant mother Bradical79 Aug 2017 #27

She Can Say What She WANTS... LovingA2andMI Aug 2017 #31

Everyone can say what they want. It's a matter of whether or not they choose to say something Neema Aug 2017 #62

She sounds confused SHRED Aug 2017 #32

It was an insensitive comment. She should apologize to other women who theophilus Aug 2017 #33

+1000 Duppers Aug 2017 #43

I was fortunate enough to have 2 easily... 3catwoman3 Aug 2017 #34

She's just happy. Let her be happy. nolabear Aug 2017 #35

no way we have to take apart every syllable that every one says about everything. grantcart Aug 2017 #103

I absolutely wish her the best and do not think she intended to insult anyone. Neema Aug 2017 #144

Grossly insensitive to those who for various reasons choose not or cannot. Coventina Aug 2017 #36

I'm just pissed because she was supposed to marry ME Blue_Tires Aug 2017 #37

It needs followup. theaocp Aug 2017 #39

I thought we outgrew such sentiment in the '60s or Duppers Aug 2017 #41

Here's an article that might enlighten the haters as to how she really feels nini Aug 2017 #42

She is happy.. this moment is about her and no one else.. so stop reading too much into it Le Gaucher Aug 2017 #44

Only she is a public figure. She is famous. LisaL Aug 2017 #49

Just stop, okay. Dream Girl Aug 2017 #121

No, not okay. LisaL Aug 2017 #153

That only goes for Serena. How ironic. Dream Girl Aug 2017 #156

Isn't there a distinction... oegthe Aug 2017 #46

When a trans man gives birth, does that make him a real woman? Coventina Aug 2017 #47

👍👍 Duppers Aug 2017 #52

I presume she didn't mean to upset anybody. LisaL Aug 2017 #48

It's sad to think that in America in 2017 TheDebbieDee Aug 2017 #51

Congratulations on your upcoming child Ms. Williams ismnotwasm Aug 2017 #54

+GooglePlex stevenleser Aug 2017 #60

Exactly ismnotwasm Aug 2017 #81

I laughed (admittedly derisively) almost 40 years ago when I heard the same words. no_hypocrisy Aug 2017 #56

Maybe it has something to do with the internet and media masculating her all the time. MrsCoffee Aug 2017 #64

I think that Serena needs a bit of gentle education. Caliman73 Aug 2017 #67

Personally, I don't think Serena needs to be reminded of anything. PragmaticLiberal Aug 2017 #70

cringe-worthy, but giving her a pass nt geek tragedy Aug 2017 #69

I guess she can be as excited as she wants, but damn, that's thoughtless. Orsino Aug 2017 #83

Honey, You're about to find out a 'real woman', like you say lunatica Aug 2017 #90

Massive overreaction to a small comment. Oneironaut Aug 2017 #94

Intention is not the only thing here. Of course her intention was not to be hurtful. Neema Aug 2017 #97

You were always a real woman, Serena. eShirl Aug 2017 #102

I have always wondered if I am a real women and now I know I'm not. Doreen Aug 2017 #105

You are loved and supported by those of us who have suffered the same or similar. Coventina Aug 2017 #106

Thank you. Doreen Aug 2017 #125

Another pseudo-woman here. Neema Aug 2017 #112

Each time I did not know I was pregnant. The last time I was pregnant was not an actual Doreen Aug 2017 #124

I'm sorry about your ectopic. I haven't experienced that but I have Neema Aug 2017 #141

Its a benign comment. phleshdef Aug 2017 #110

I was childfree by choice for many years -- now I'm childfree by biology Heddi Aug 2017 #126

Yep. I was also told that I would never know real love without having children. Coventina Aug 2017 #128

You'd think it wouldn't be allowed, but it is Heddi Aug 2017 #131

OMG. THIS! Neema Aug 2017 #137

This year on January 1st Heddi Aug 2017 #138

CONGRATULATIONS SERENA WILLIAMS !!!!! kwassa Aug 2017 #130

My genitalia have frogmarch Aug 2017 #135

can't believe the # of responses here giving this a complete pass; it's no wonder women are still TheFrenchRazor Aug 2017 #147

It's very disheartening, to be sure. Coventina Aug 2017 #148

Not just giving it a complete pass, but implying that anyone offended is Neema Aug 2017 #151

I am not a fan of hers but MuseRider Aug 2017 #152

I had a kid MFM008 Aug 2017 #154

So, by Serena's definition of what it takes to be a real woman rusty fender Aug 2017 #157

Harmless comment. romanic Aug 2017 #158