Crosspost "Are we accidentally viewing children the way men do?" from /r/fourthwavewomen:

It's always bothered me that, no matter the situation, birth announcements are always a happy occasion. In a toxic/abusive relationship? Have too many kids to support already? Going to tank mom's career?

Doesn't matter. New baby is always good. Everything will work out.

This has always been strange to me. But we live in a patriarchal society and have been conditioned to internalize men's views. And just like how we're now seeing how marriage was never for women's benefit, children might not be either.

It's men that suffer no downsides from a new baby. It's always good for him. Now the woman can't leave him. Now he gets more heirs. Now her income won't ever rise above his. New baby is always good.

And it's not that women are, "falling for it", we were conditioned from childhood to find it exciting. We're gifting baby clothes and bottles (the accessories our dollies came with) instead of offering real help with the hardships. If I didn't know better I'd think we were trying to keep a secret. Now, who wouldn't want women to realize that motherhood isn't to her benefit? It's taboo to suggest that maybe a new baby will make life just a tiny bit more challenging. It's taboo to have anything but complete and blind support, especially if you're a woman.

Posted by Shouseedee | 30 March 2022 | Link