Jelena Dokic has shared an impassioned message about conversations around women having children as she urged people to have more ’empathy’.
The tennis legend, 41, took to Instagram on Thursday to share a lengthy message detailing her numerous experiences of people asking her if she will have children.
In the heartfelt post, Jelena urged people to ‘be kinder’ as she revealed she has had to deal with people’s ‘shocked’ reactions when they learn she doesn’t have children.
She told how she has ‘made peace’ with the fact that she won’t have children, but slammed the ‘shame and stigma’ in society surrounding women who don’t have kids.
Jelena criticised people for asking women ‘inappropriate’ questions on the sensitive topic and urged them to have ’empathy’ as they never know what someone has gone through.
Jelena Dokic has shared an impassioned message about conversations around women having children as she urged people to have more ’empathy’
Alongside a picture of herself, Jelena wrote: ‘Women having children and being mothers!!! Some people need to be kinder when it comes to asking women about having children.
‘I don’t mind the questions if I have kids or do I want kids. Not at all. But I do mind people’s and especially men’s shocked faces when they find out that I am 41 and I don’t have children.
‘Firstly, be kind because you don’t know why I haven’t, won’t have or won’t be able to have them.
‘Maybe I couldn’t, maybe I tried and it didn’t work out, maybe I wasn’t fortunate enough to find someone to do it with, maybe I am scared to because of my childhood or I am scared to raise a child as a single mother.
‘Also, sometimes people can’t even afford to have kids or they simply tried everything and it didn’t work out which is very painful.
The tennis pro, 41, took to Instagram to share a picture of herself (above) alongside a lengthy message detailing her numerous experiences of people asking her if she will have children
In the heartfelt post, Jelena urged people to ‘be kinder’ as she revealed she has had to deal with people’s ‘shocked’ reactions when they learn she doesn’t have children
‘You never know what has happened to someone and what their reasons are and what they have gone through.’
Jelena went on to slam the ‘stigma’ surrounding women who don’t have children as she criticised people for still valuing a woman’s ‘worth’ based on if she is a mother.
She continued: ‘Secondly, does it really matter? Does a woman having children and being a mother define who she is? Is a women less worthy if she doesn’t have children? And the answer is a big NO.
‘But unfortunately we still live in a world where that is what defines us women if we are worthy or not. We have to be mothers to be worthy or to live up to some kind of a standard.
‘This needs to stop. The narrative, shame and stigma needs to stop. So be kind and have some empathy when you ask women about having kids and motherhood.
Jelena criticised people for asking women ‘inappropriate’ questions on the sensitive topic and urged them to have ’empathy’ as they never know what someone has gone through
‘It’s a very sore subject for many and you never know what anyone has gone through and how much pain they carry because of it.
‘I will not have children, it won’t happen for me and I am ok with that. I have made peace with that but people’s shocked faces are what I am not ok with.
‘As if to say why, what is wrong with you and how come you haven’t had kids? What have you been waiting for? That’s what I and every woman doesn’t deserve. So have some empathy and kindness. Full stop.
‘Here is to all women having to put up with inappropriate questions and looks about being mothers and here is to all women that for one reason or another won’t or can’t have children.
‘You are worthy and don’t let anyone shame you based on not having children.’
She told how she has ‘made peace’ with the fact that she won’t have children, but slammed the ‘shame and stigma’ in society surrounding women who don’t have kids
In the comments, she was flooded with messages of support from her followers and other women detailing the similar experiences they too have had to go through.
They wrote: ‘Beautifully written. It’s hard when ppl ask those questions, make inappropriate comments or just assume you have children or just don’t understand why you don’t. Not their business.’;
‘Inspirational Jelena, just keep doing you ! Your amazing, strong, resilient, beautiful, smart and have one of the best kind understanding hearts!’;
‘Thank you Jelena. Your words really made my night for personal reasons’; Thank you Jelena. This is spot on.’
