Dilemmas, by their very definition, don’t offer easy or tidy resolutions. Now, toss in some deeply ingrained stereotypes, social and economic pressures, and reproductive siren songs and reckonings. Top it off with a healthy amount of identity sorting. What have you got? A hardy dilemma salad of sorts with some intense and, at times, biting…
Tag: motherhood
‘Momification’ of Kamala
Now, I don’t know about you, but I got a little weary of the Mamala, Mamala, Mamala in recent weeks. The ‘momification’ of Kamala got me thinking and writing. It led to this article headlined and subheaded: Here’s how the piece starts: “Like many, I cheered the announcement of Kamala Harris as Vice President. Why…
Tokenism Takes a New Form
Tokenism is an awkward thing to experience. I never fully understood how prevalent it is for childless women, but the penny dropped a few weeks ago. So, it started when a Random House marketing manager sent a ham-handed email. She asked if I’d like to read and share The Trying Game as part of October’s…
21 Miles: Reconciling Grief, Love and Fear
21 Miles not only held my attention (no small feat in today’s distraction-addled environment), it fed my heart and nurtured my soul. 21 Miles recounts the story of Jessica Hepburn‘s valiant efforts to both swim the English Channel and answer whether “motherhood makes you happy” or whether “you can have a fulfilling life without children.”…
You Don’t Have To Be A Mother To Be A Loving Woman
Five years ago we made history. On September 28, 2010 Silent Sorority earned an award in the media capital of North America — New York City. There I was amid an unusual mix of a few celebrities, Reprotech industry sales people, clinicians, health advocates and RESOLVE representatives. In my acceptance speech I managed to hush…
Pope Francis: Let’s Not Promote Further Prejudice
I get the appeal of a world where there is no gray — only black and white. When there’s only one way there’s no pesky thinking required. The only problem is we live in a complex world where ‘choice’ isn’t always what it seems. And that’s where things get muddy. Amid the rash of stories…
Keeping it 100: Identity Crisis and Emotional Cratering in a Mommy Mad World
In Part II of the ‘Bitter Infertiles’ podcast transcript (Part I here or listen to the podcast here), we talk infertility trauma, the assault to identity and misplaced mommy glorification… Mo: One of the big issues we discussed last month with a therapist was the devastating effect that infertility can have on the emotional well-being….
Gather Round Women: So You Need Some Help With Your ‘Mommy Problem’
With an impish look on his face my husband innocently asked if I’d read The New York Times opinion section recently. Minutes later — with the requisite cartoon steam coming out of my ears — I was harrumphing my way through Our ‘Mommy Problem.’ I could also be heard grumbling and exclaiming loudly: Finally figured…
Strong At The Broken Places
This week my TV viewing intersected with life in a meaningful way. Larger than life characters reminded me that in the long march of time, it’s how we cope with what comes our way that defines us. In turbulent times, sanity and clear thinking can be in short supply. That was made abundantly clear in…
“The No-Baby Boom” Nails Cultural Shift and Gloria Steinem Rocks On at 80
It was easy to walk a little taller on Sunday. Why? I had just consumed, back to back, articles on women fearlessly tackling stereotypes and unabashedly breaking molds. It was as though a light was switched on as I read, illuminating just how dramatically society has shifted in the past 50 years — in particular…