In Pakistan, a country where a woman's value is often measured by her ability and willingness to become a mother, being child-free can be a taboo topic.
For Fizza Abbas, it was a rude awakening when she visited a gynaecologist in Karachi during the pandemic. The doctor asked about her marital status, children, and eventually shifted to a more menacing tone, implying that not wanting kids meant something was wrong. This experience left Abbas furious with herself for crumbling under pressure.
However, Abbas' realization was a turning point. She realized that she wasn't alone in her decision. Across the world, women are making conscious choices to remain child-free, often driven by personal introspection rather than selfishness.
The pro-natalist rhetoric dominating Pakistani society and media is staggering. Dramas often depict child-free women as cursed or pitied, while state leaders echo this mindset. Former prime minister Imran Khan once remarked that the western concept of feminism has degraded the role of a mother, implying that feminism and motherhood are incompatible.
This messaging trickles into healthcare and policymaking. Women in Pakistan have no autonomy to make decisions about their reproductive health, with two in three women having no access to birth control or reproductive education. The pressure to have children is often intense, particularly in rural areas where rigid gender roles persist.
Abbas' story may seem like an isolated incident, but it's part of a larger conversation about women's choices and autonomy over their bodies. In a society where motherhood is often seen as the ultimate goal, Abbas' decision to remain child-free is not broken or selfish – it's simply a different path that she has chosen.
The article highlights the need for change in how we perceive and support women who choose not to have children. It's time to reframe our understanding of what fulfillment means for women, beyond traditional roles as mothers and caregivers. By acknowledging and respecting these choices, we can work towards creating a more inclusive and supportive society for all women.
For Fizza Abbas, it was a rude awakening when she visited a gynaecologist in Karachi during the pandemic. The doctor asked about her marital status, children, and eventually shifted to a more menacing tone, implying that not wanting kids meant something was wrong. This experience left Abbas furious with herself for crumbling under pressure.
However, Abbas' realization was a turning point. She realized that she wasn't alone in her decision. Across the world, women are making conscious choices to remain child-free, often driven by personal introspection rather than selfishness.
The pro-natalist rhetoric dominating Pakistani society and media is staggering. Dramas often depict child-free women as cursed or pitied, while state leaders echo this mindset. Former prime minister Imran Khan once remarked that the western concept of feminism has degraded the role of a mother, implying that feminism and motherhood are incompatible.
This messaging trickles into healthcare and policymaking. Women in Pakistan have no autonomy to make decisions about their reproductive health, with two in three women having no access to birth control or reproductive education. The pressure to have children is often intense, particularly in rural areas where rigid gender roles persist.
Abbas' story may seem like an isolated incident, but it's part of a larger conversation about women's choices and autonomy over their bodies. In a society where motherhood is often seen as the ultimate goal, Abbas' decision to remain child-free is not broken or selfish – it's simply a different path that she has chosen.
The article highlights the need for change in how we perceive and support women who choose not to have children. It's time to reframe our understanding of what fulfillment means for women, beyond traditional roles as mothers and caregivers. By acknowledging and respecting these choices, we can work towards creating a more inclusive and supportive society for all women.
being child-free is literally not anyone's business but hers 
& it's crazy how the pro-natalist rhetoric in Pakistan can be so damaging to women's autonomy over their own bodies 
we need more ppl like her who are speaking out against this toxic mindset & promoting a culture of inclusivity & acceptance 
. I mean, who should she be judged by? Her worth isn't defined by whether or not she has kids 
. It's wild to me that there are still societies where being child-free is seen as weird or even broken 
. But at the same time, I get why women might feel pressured into having kids, especially in places like Pakistan where it seems like having a family is seen as the ultimate goal 
. We need to change our narrative around motherhood and what fulfillment means for women - it's so not just about being a mom or caregiver! 
We should be celebrating all women's choices, whether they're kids or not 
it's a personal choice that has nothing to do with anyone else's drama. like fizza abbas said she crumbled under pressure from the doc, but what about all those docs who don't make a big deal out of it? anyway back to pakistan... i mean im not saying ppl shouldn't wanna have kids or anything, but can we please rethink this pro-natalist vibe? arent there other ways to measure fulfillment like career success or personal growth? 
I think its kinda crazy that in a country where family is super important, theres so much pressure on women to have kids. like, whats wrong with not wanting kids?! 
- she's proof that being child-free doesn't mean you're broken or selfish, it just means you're taking control of your own life! 
the pro-natalist rhetoric in pakistani society is seriously messed up, like who are these ppl to dictate what women should want? feminism & motherhood r not mutually exclusive, it's all about individual choices & autonomy 
It's like, hello, women have the right to make their own choices about their bodies and lives without being judged or shamed. The pro-natalist rhetoric is just so... outdated. 
It's not just about personal choice - it's about basic human rights! Let's get this conversation started and work towards creating a more inclusive, supportive society for all women. 
. I mean, it's like they're not even taught about birth control or reproductive health in schools 
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It's wild to me that there's still so much pressure on women to have kids, especially in rural areas where it seems like their autonomy is already taken away by rigid gender roles 
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Like, what about women who want to pursue careers, travel, or just live their best lives without the added responsibility of parenthood? 
its all about finding your own path and living with what makes you happy 
They're making conscious choices about their lives, just like everyone else, and we should be celebrating that diversity 
. Let's start having more inclusive conversations about women's choices and autonomy over their bodies 
. We're all in this together, and we need to support each other 
. I think we need to start questioning these traditional roles and giving women more autonomy over their reproductive health, you feel? It's not about feminism vs. motherhood, it's just about respecting individual choices and letting people live their lives on their own terms 
. They're trying to control every aspect of our lives, from what we eat to who we marry, and now they're pushing us to become mothers? It's like, no one's ever asked me if I want kids before... but I guess that's just not how it works in this country 
. They always show these child-free women as villains or pity cases, like they're doing something wrong for choosing not to have kids. Meanwhile, the men are off living their best lives, no one's questioning them about their reproductive choices 
. It's time someone called out this hypocrisy and started giving women the freedom to make their own decisions about their bodies 
. and omg the whole pro-natalist thing is wild