Salma Hayek: Motherhood is not for everyone, it is for me

Actress Salma Hayek opens up about the societal pressures on women to become mothers in the May issue of Marie Claire. The 40-year-old Ugly Betty executive producer is expecting her first child with her new fiance, businessman François-Henri Pinault.  Salma says women should not have children just because society tells them to, especially not if they feel aren’t ready,

Motherhood is not for everyone. It is for me, but there’s no reason women should feel rushed to have a child.

She says that these and other expectations placed on women today are unrealistic and unfair.

Society thinks if you don’t have children, you’ve failed as a woman, even if you are CEO of a company. You’ve got to be beautiful, smart, skinny, tall, rich, successful at your job, married to the right guy – and have genius children. And by the way, you also have to be a nun!

This interview took place before Salma publicly announced her pregnancy in March.

Source: People

Do you agree with what Salma had to say?

Comments

I have to disagree with one thing. Women who WANT children should not wait forever because sometimes its harder kater on to actually HAVE a child. Without undergoing something like IVF. And unless you have loads of money or really great insurance coverage…its really expensive!! I’m not saying have kids when you are 18 or even 20, 22, but waiting until its the “right” time may mean its never the right time. You may suddenly turn 40 and you are almost OUT of time!! People like Marcia Cross are VERY lucky!!! It doesn’t always work out like that!

That said….I am sooo happy for Salma!!!

- tink1217 on April 16th, 2007

I agree 100% with what she had to say. Of the 3 daughters in my family, we are all at different stages- single, married, and married with children. My sister that is married is constantly asked when they will have children. The truth is- they have no desire to have children. I am single and in no rush to get married. I think about adopting children as a single woman if I don’t get married. I do think there are pressures from society to marry and have children- however, children are not for everyone.

- Colleen on April 16th, 2007

I completely agree with Salma about motherhood not being for everyone. I for one love my daughter with all my hearts content, but I have a friend that says she doesn’t want kids but feels she has to. I told her that if you don’t feel like you want to be a mother then you may never feel that way and becoming a mother is something that you are the rest of your life and can’t take back. So I completely agree and think it should be completely up to them if they want children or not and not society

- Megan on April 16th, 2007

I think she’s so right. Way to much pressure on us.

- Alicia A. on April 16th, 2007

Yea I totally agree with Salma, motherhood is not for everybody and I always felt Salma was in no rush to have kids she wanted to focus on her career and other stuff in her life, but I always had feeling she would have a baby. She always gives me the impression she is secure, smart, and down to earth, and I like her as an actress and she is good role model for latinas. Can’t wait to see her baby, she is beautiful so I’m sure her baby will be a cutie.

- gabriella on April 16th, 2007

I think Salma has left out that biologically, there is a reason women need to rush to have children – let’s face it, the numbers of women having children successfully at 40 are lower than the number having them sucessfully at 30. There’s always the odd mother giving birth at 45. However socially, we would all like to forget that the window of opportunity for childbearing exists, but biologically, you can’t leave it forever – unless you’re rich enough and willing to pay for expensive and complicated fertility treatments.

- lanie on April 16th, 2007

I agree with what Salma says – There is a lot of pressure. I’m not sure if I want to have babies, but you know, you keep hearing stuff like you better have children young, ect. ect. It’s hard really. But on the bright side, I’m glad she’s having a baby since it’s something she wants!

- Aura on April 16th, 2007

I def. think there is a lot of pressure for woman to have children. I remember my friend telling people she never wants kids and people would look at her and go, “never” are you “serious”…yes some people have no desire to be mothers. And sometimes maybe it’s for the best. Maybe you don’t enjoy children. Why would people who don’t care for kids want to have them? Or maybe some people are just too scared. I for one can’t wait but def. want to do it when I know it’s the right time…meaning I want it to be with someone I am truly in love with (hopefully married to) and financially stable. That’s when I’ll be ready.

I think in hollywood though because couples have trouble staying together or because their careers are so busy it’s not a big deal for them to start later although the trend now a days seems to be have them just ot have them. I sometimes wonder if certain celebs ever heard of birth control or better yet condoms because it seems like babies are popping out left and right in the hollywood world! lol

- J.M. on April 16th, 2007

I think it’s a little difficult for a child, also, if their parents are older when they have children. My mom was in her late 30s and my dad in his 50s when they had me. I had a great childhood, but I found I worried alot about their health (at a very young age) and it was difficult to have to take care of them (health-wise) when I was 16/17 years old.

- C.M. on April 17th, 2007

Salma’s great; she always speaks her mind & is more of a humanitarian than your average “sex symbol”!! For all of her sex appeal, she’s not an idiotic stereotype — which will only make her an even greater-than-average parent!!

- Caroline on April 17th, 2007