Serena Williams: 'Giving birth will make me a real woman' (ouch)

In an interview with Australia’s Herald Sun, the 35-year-old athlete said:

"I have so much respect for so many women [for giving birth]. I am about to be a real woman now, you know?

“It's going to be something incredibly impressive to go through."

Naturally, this remark has caused a lot of upset, not least from women who do not – or can't – have children.

"I guess my wife is not a real woman (in your eyes) as she can’t have kids due to something that happened to her as a child," said one angry tweeter.

“So, in your view, I'm not a real woman because I CHOSE not to have children? #ChooseYourWordsCarefully” added another.

While another shared: “I cannot have children. I have suffered loss after loss. And I will say I am definitely a real woman through it all!”

One woman, though, summed up what we think Serena was probably trying to say: “You don't have to have a baby to be a real woman but I bet having a baby makes you feel that way. How could it not?”

Serena’s currently thought to be 8 months pregnant, expecting her 1st child with Reddit founder fiancé Alexis Ohanian in early September.

So, it’s totally reasonable to suggest that she’s just super excited to embark on this new chapter in her life – and that’s what sparked this extremely poor choice of words.

After all, being pregnant can – all being well health-wise – make you feel very womanly ?

We don’t like to play the blame game here at MFM HQ, so we’re 100% hopeful that Serena will adjust her phrasing on the subject going forward.

And for the record: duh, of course we’re all REAL women, baby or no baby, pregnancy or no pregnancy. Don't you forget it!

Images: Instagram/Serena Williams

Read more:

• Serena's 6-month bump Met Gala look
• Serena's heartfelt letter to her unborn baby
• Serena's knockout pregnancy announcement