Serena Williams is facing some criticism for saying that childbirth will make her “a real woman.”
The tennis pro, , will welcome her first child with fiancé Alexis Ohanian in September, and chatted with the Herald Sun’s Stellar about how she feels giving birth will change her.
“I have so much respect for so many women [for giving birth],” Williams said. “I am about to be a real woman now, you know? It’s going to be something incredibly impressive to go through.”
Readers online were quick to criticize Williams for her statement.
“What a ridiculous comment! I am not ‘less of a woman’ because I don’t have children,” wrote one Twitter user. “You don’t have to have children to be ‘a real woman’. How shallow,” commented another.
The athlete also admitted she has some fears about giving birth.
“I don’t think watching birthing videos helps,” she told the publication. “I actually think it makes it worse. Having a baby, nothing is guaranteed.”
She even admitted that she’s worried about how giving birth will affect her game.
“That’s the scariest thing. [But] I think [giving birth] will give me more strength, if that’s possible, and a lot more confidence,” she shared. “I feel like I will be ready for anything.”
Williams’ rep didn’t immediately return a request for comment. Being that Williams has always been an open advocate for women, I think this is more so a case of a bad choice of words before an exciting event in your life. Leave her alone, don’t spoil this moment for her, people.
