Society has placed a timeline on women — no matter where they live or what their culture is. It seems that most people still expect women to become mothers, and once that happens, then they need to be with their kids 24/7.
All women know as soon as they hit their mid-20s, the questions come.
For some reason, once a woman reaches a certain age, everyone begins to ask when she’s going to get married and have kids.
Even if a woman doesn’t have a boyfriend, fiancé, or husband, the question still remains.
People are constantly assuming that every woman wants to have kids, or, is even able to have kids.
However, this question can be extremely problematic.
Sometimes, people assume pregnancy is someone’s future just because a woman is… well… a woman.
Fantasy and science fiction novelist Catherynne Valente shared an embarrassing story of her own on Twitter.
The writer said she was being patted down by airport security when she was asked the question.
The airport security guard asked if she was pregnant.
Turns out, Catherynne wasn’t pregnant at all. Ouch.
Then, the security agent asked another question.
Seeing that Catherynne was traveling alone, the security guard asked her, “Where’s the baby?”
Not only do people automatically ask where the baby is when a mom is out by herself, but they assume negative outcomes.
Just because the baby isn’t within a two-inch radius of their mother, that doesn’t mean she’s a bad mother.
There are also those moms who have given birth to stillborns or had miscarriages to consider.
Sometimes, a belly doesn’t mean a baby and asking this question can trigger some trauma.
And, remember that babies often have two parents to care for them.
One father replied to Catherynne’s tweet saying that a cop once pulled him over, asking where the baby’s mother was.
One Twitter user did chime in with the perfect response to shut them up.
Just troll, troll, troll the question away.
It’s about time we stop asking inappropriate, personal questions to women.
Their bodies and their babies are their business.
