It’s the year 2021, and people still expect women to follow a specific path and conform to old-fashioned gender roles. As soon as you hit 25, you start getting bombarded with questions about your love life, future, and motherhood. It becomes normal for you to hear statements like “When are you getting married?”, “Don’t wait too long to settle down”, “Your biological clock is ticking”. As much as it irritates you, it’s reached a point where you have become accustomed to these nosy questions. You’ve heard it all — every misconception there is to late pregnancy, every “concern” that a worried relative has, and any other bulls**t that society throws at your face. Enough is enough. The next time a pados wali aunty comes at you with some unsolicited gyaan, show them this article. Here are five new-age moms who lived life on their terms and did not care about log kya kahenge:
1. Gul Panag
Image: @gulpanag/Instagram
Gul Panag is a fitness enthusiast and biker who has broken several stereotypes. The Indian actress, voice artist, and model chose to embrace motherhood at 39 years. She did not care about what society expects her to do and proved that one could be a mother much later than the age the world prescribes to you. The multifaceted mom has participated in the Miss Universe pageant and is a trained pilot, among many other things.
2. Anita Hassanandani
Image: @anitahassanandani/Instagram
Indian television actress Anita Hassanandani got married in 2013. She did not rush into parenthood until her and her partner were ready. At 39, she chose to embrace motherhood and said that the age factor did play on her mind as several people had told her it would be tough. But the actress emphasized that it’s important to be prepared mentally, physically, and financially before deciding to be a parent. We agree!
3. Neha Dhupia
Image: @nehadhupia/Instagram
Indian actress and model Neha Dhupia who works in Hindi, Telugu, Punjabi, Malayalam and Japanese films opened up about how she was body-shamed for her pregnancy weight. The former Femina Miss India welcomed her first baby at 39 years. She said that she was fat-shamed and wished that the world was a kinder place to be in. Neha also said that trolls don’t bother her but when a woman body-shames another woman, she will shut them up.
4. Esha Deol
Image: @imeshadeol/Instagram
Everyone has a notion that motherhood is a miraculous experience. But the journey is a tough one, and no one talks about the realities of it. Indian actress Esha Deol spoke about the difficulties of postpartum depression. She said that she experienced a sense of sadness and gloom and didn’t know what was going on. One day, Esha felt like crying in a room full of people, and that’s when her mother helped her understand that she needs to consult a doctor. With her mother’s support, she got the proper care and treatment she needed to battle postpartum depression.
5. Sameera Reddy
Image: reddysameera/Instagram
The actress, who is candid about her feelings, struggles, and thoughts, also spoke about her struggles with postpartum depression. She said that the first step is to recognize that you’ve got a problem and admit it to yourself. The actress, known for her Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu films, revealed her difficulties with postpartum weight gain. She spoke about her fight with body positivity and said that she had disappeared from the limelight because she didn’t have the courage to face the world.
It’s not easy to face a world that is judgemental and full of criticism. It comes with a lot of courage, and we commend these women for standing up against society. Whether it is taking their time with parenthood or keeping it real with postpartum health and recovery, they are an inspiration to women everywhere. We would love to hear your thoughts on this article. Share them with us in the comments below.
