Comments on: Motherhood As Women’s “Most Sacred Birthright”

By: J1212

J1212 — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 02:51:00 +0000

Interesting. The funny thing is, I was the stylist on this commercial–draping the fabric over the prosthetic belly, shopping for the actresses in the spot. I must’ve been far too busy making sure it all looked good, because I didn’t really notice the condescending tone. And I am a woman who –although it is my “sacred birthright” hasn’t had the opportunity to have children. Hmm.

By: Reut

Reut — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 05:29:10 +0000

I think the analysis may be exaggerated.
I think the woman’s being headless may serve many purposes- one (as was mentioned earlier) to make the targeted women (those trying to get pregnant) able to picture themselves in that position, but also it disguises the woman’s gender.
Also, the decision to have (or to not have) a child, and if yes- when to do it, is in-fact one that changes the woman’s life, or at least determines much of it’s course. In this respect I don’t think the advertisers are not being appropriate.
Lastly, I think if anything, this add IS respectful of women who are trying to get pregnant. I don’t think it is being disrespectful toward those who aren’t.
I don’t see where the motherhood=sexless womanhood is coming from, but I don’t think it is coming from this add.
Also, just because the add marks fertility as “a woman’s most sacred birthright” does not imply that it is her most important role in society- it is HER RIGHT. She get’s to choose. This doesn’t sound like an observation telling her what she needs to do about it, but offers assistance in the case she chooses to try and have a child
another thing about “helping to answer a woman’s most important question”- it is all about the woman’s needs. This add is not about parenting guidance books or toys- it’s about women who feel a need in having a child. It is a biological, emotional, sometimes almost physical needs that many (albeit not all) women feel.
And yes, Ryan, there doen’t need to be a father in the picture for a woman to decide that she wants a baby. She can plan and execute without a constant male figure in her life! For example if she has a female partner, or no partner at all!
The fact that the woman in the add is visibly wearing a wedding ring implies that that is not the intention of the advertisers, but childbearing is the woman’s decision. Not the father’s, not any other person’s. It is hers

By: mom2gcnj

mom2gcnj — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 03:20:48 +0000

Word!

By: Mol

Mol — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 19:25:45 +0000

I am in love with your brilliant lucid – forward thinking site– ..

WOW reading reading & spot on as far as this advert- yes!

We need A LOT more media skepticism- also I think a great way to ensure freedom of speech but crack down on the violence etc- in porn is it’s a media just like anything else- or the news, why not analyze it purely as the media it is & make similar observations?? Honestly!=- what could be more effective in facing the truth, raising awareness & looking into the deeper meanings of our taboos?

& also all the issues of voyeurism & our dangerous obsession with it & also in the context of mirror neurons!

I would LOVE to see this happen-.. Choose a film & let’s dissect!

By: Mol

Mol — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 19:20:45 +0000

Sally I think that is to give respect to people who’ve been filmed unaware they do that on the news for a lot of people.. & especially if it’s an obese epidemic clip I dont’ think they want to reveal their faces for that..

By: Sally

Sally — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 03:53:11 +0000

They do the same thing to fat people. Watch the B-roll of any “obesity epidemic” news stories. All bodies, not faces.

By: Vibhor

Vibhor — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 03:21:40 +0000

I am a male feminist (though, I am not sure if I can call myself one, since I have not done anything useful yet. I am in the process of writing a book).

Every time I see something, somehow, I manage to twist it up and curse it to hell because of its apparent sexism. I think it’s going a little far…what I’m doing.

And my opinion is that this can be applicable to every feminist. Things can always be seen in another light, as this advertisement. If I had watched it, my first thought would have been “F*** the creators of this”

But, as others have posted, there are other ways with which we can view this advertisement, perhaps with more forgiveness and benefit of the doubt?

Instead of attacking things like this, I think feminists (in general) should do something like educate all people (especially younger girls) about the sorts of brainwashing and sexism that is taking place, and to encourage those people to take a stand against it.

I’m young and inexperienced. Email me if you want to comment and share ideas.

vibhor.kumar.school@gmail.com

By: veeMachi

veeMachi — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 21:28:05 +0000

In all fairness, these adds are targeted toward women trying to get pregnant, many of whom share the mentality espoused by this video.

It’s also worth noting that the point of the ad isn’t to make women associate themselves to the pregnant woman on screen, but to picture themselves as the woman on the screen. That’s why head is removed. Impersonalization makes it easier for the audience to picture themselves on screen as opposed to someone else.

By: The Nerd

The Nerd — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 17:09:44 +0000

I am reminded of 1 Timothy 2:15 – “However, women will be saved by having children, if they continue to have faith, love, and holiness, along with good judgment.” Because of this, I am certain that there are a good many Biblical literalists who believe in the message of this firtility ad.

By: lizrd

lizrd — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 16:53:59 +0000

I don’t really have much more to contribute, but ryan and everyone’s analysis of this is totally dead on. These first response commericials irk me as much as the repHresh commercials do.

By: yikes

yikes — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 22:39:15 +0000

Those last two sentences of Lianne’s don’t really foster a feeling that I, a childless woman fast departing child-bearing years, am respected.

Particularly that last one. Ouch.

By: Meep

Meep — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 19:03:46 +0000

What’s curious to me is that the wedding dress/sheet thing almost looks like a (pseudo-)toga and the woman is tanned, like it’s evoking some weird ancient Greco-Roman cult of Hestia sort of vibes. (The yellowy tone of the ad is also relevant.) I can’t put my finger on it, exactly, but it feels almost like it’s trying to call upon the sort of sacred mother (obviously), but of ancient/”mystical” traditions.

Lianne, I don’t think anyone here is disrespecting mothers or motherhood, just calling attention to the fact that ads like this (and the cultural climate that produces them) disrespects women who can’t or don’t want to have children, as though our womanhood is “less than” the woman/motherhood of women who choose and are able to have children.

By: Lianne

Lianne — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 17:40:37 +0000

To me, this seems like one big over-analysis. I respect women who choose not to have babies; that’s all fine and dandy. However, it seems like this idea has escalated into a lack of respect for motherhood. Even if you choose not to have kids, maybe you should try respecting the process that continues our species. Some of us still feel it’s a beautiful thing to be able to create life.

By: Penny

Penny — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 05:51:14 +0000

“Why would someone who does NOT want to become pregnant take a fertility test? You’d think they’d…continue using the birth control that they’d been using so far.”

Knowing where you are in your cycle is useful for a lot of reasons, not just fertility/contraception planning. Like Muriel Minnie Mae says, you can learn to read your body’s own signals of ovulation, and more women should–it’s your body, so learn how it works, I figure. But for women who can’t or won’t or haven’t done that (yet), a fertility testing kit might be a helpful alternative.

By: half a week’s worth of link posts « Aging Hipster Quarterly

half a week’s worth of link posts « Aging Hipster Quarterly — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 05:20:58 +0000

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