Speaking on the POV Podcast, Sophia said mothers in Africa often have access to a wider support system after childbirth, with relatives helping them recover and care for their babies.
“Seriously, I think that American women are soldiers. When I see a woman or a mother out here and she has multiple children, I look at her like a little soldier because there’s something that we have in Africa that’s pretty much like a village,” she said.
She explained that Nigerian women can have their mothers or other relatives stay with them for weeks or months after childbirth to help with childcare and household responsibilities.
Sophia contrasted this with the experience of some mothers in the United States, where she said women may have to resume their normal routines relatively soon after giving birth without the same level of extended family support.
She also agreed with the host’s observation that “the grandma is the baby,” referring to the difficulty some American mothers may face when seeking help from their own parents with childcare.
During the discussion, the host said she rejected some of the expectations surrounding motherhood because of the burden of raising children without sufficient support.
“As much as I love my baby, I reject the entire existence of motherhood for the very reasons that you guys just discussed,” she said.
She added that she did not want to live as a “lone no-limit soldier,” saying she wanted a softer lifestyle rather than taking on excessive responsibilities alone.
The host also said she might have wanted as many as eight children if she were living in Nigeria but would not consider having more children without the support system she described as necessary for a “soft life.”
Sophia disagreed, saying she would still want eight children in Nigeria because of the support provided by the extended family and community.
Post a Comment