If you see a woman over the age of 30 who isn’t married and/or doesn’t have any children, do her a favor and mind your business about her personal affairs. It’s one thing to dodge the judgment from family members who mean well but, do you realize how comfortable strangers are with telling women what they should do with their bodies? Unsolicited advice and opinions aren’t always welcomed, and there are a few things you should consider:
She knows first hand about her biological clock and doesn’t need your judgmental reminder. If it’s one thing we talk openly about when it comes to women, it’s the rapid decline of a woman’s egg count as she ages. Since you want to be intrusive regarding her reproductive system, maybe you should also ask if her ovaries, fallopian tubes, and uterus are all in working order. Wait, that’s kinda weird, right? Well, so is telling a woman how much time she has left to bear children. Try asking if she’s happy. Has she reached all of the goals she’s set for herself yet?
Maybe there’s a medical or psychological reason as to why she doesn’t have children. It’s unnerving to watch women dance around this topic especially when they aren’t trying to disclose that their body is literally working against them. The most you can do is learn how to keep your mouth shut and keep your opinions to yourselves. Too many women struggle with infertility, Endometriosis, Fibroids, cysts and a variety of other physical ailments that make getting pregnant a very sensitive topic.
In case you didn’t know, there are also women who just simply do not want to become mothers. While motherhood is a beautiful thing, I applaud every woman who realizes that it’s not a journey she wants to embark on. It takes strength and a strong sense of self to live life according to your own rules and not succumb to the societal norms we’ve become accustomed to.
Ultimately, a woman’s body is her own to do whatever she wants with. You aren’t helping her by pointing out the obvious, and oftentimes you do more harm by having an unnecessary conversation with her about her choices. Learn the art of shutting up and keeping personal thoughts to yourself. The whole world could be a better place if you did.
