It’s a damn shame that women still feel any sort of external pressure to procreate, especially when it’s a totally independent decision. Yet, here we have a few dozen paparazzi and interviewers demanding an explanation from twenty-five female celebrities sans children. Zooey Deschanel had us all nodding with her quick rebuttal to the question: “I’m not going to answer that question. I’m not mad at you for asking that question, but I’ve said it before: I don’t think people ask men those questions.” Yeah, girl! Those inconsiderate boobs who find women incomplete without a ring and a pram have no right to question our decision.
But, you know, for women who are also making – or living with – this decision and have to dodge the same question from awkward uncles, it can be reassuring to know that other women have gone baby-less by gut instinct or logical thinking, and are still leading fulfilling lives. So enjoy these thoughtful responses to the “but – baby?” question from talented and thriving celebrities (all women, because they, of course, are the ones who get asked, and because NY Magazine is celebrating “ovaries week”). Our favorites are…
“It’s like, ‘Do you want to be an artist and a writer, or a wife and a lover?’ With kids, your focus changes. I don’t want to go to PTA meetings.” —Stevie Nicks, InStyle, March 2002
“It was not my destiny, I kept thinking it would be, waiting for it to happen, but it never did, and I didn’t care what people thought … It was only boring old men [who would ask me]. And whenever they went, ‘What? No children? Well, you’d better get on with it, old girl,’ I’d say ‘No! F*** off!’” —Dame Helen Mirren, British Vogue, February 2013
“I would have been a terrible mother because I’m basically a very selfish human being. Not that that has stopped most people going off and having children.” —Katharine Hepburn, Kate Remembered by A. Scott Berg, published in July 2003
“It’s unconscionable to breed, with the number of children who are starving to death in impoverished countries.” —Ashley Judd, Sunday Mail and her memoir, All That Is Bitter and Sweet, 2006 and 2011
To see the whole list, check out: http://nymag.com/thecut/2014/08/25-famous-women-on-childlessness.html
