Why would Victoria Beckham's greatest achievement be her children?

[mcmooncup]

She's quoted today as saying her kids are her greatest achievement.
That's lovely n all.

But how about the fact she's brought up 4 children AND been a very successful pop star, and has now developed a multi million pound fashion label. They are massive achievements.

An example of women playing down their achievements so as not to threaten the menz?

I have noticed that successful women always feel the need to say this, but rarely successful men.

And actually I don't think DB would volunteer this without being specifically asked.

It doesn't mean that either of them love their DC less or more, it's just that women are rarely allowed to have an identity outside family, whereas men are allowed to have whatever idfentity they choose.

She sounds like she has perspective.

And a lot that people do in terms of work, activism, their own community is because they want to achieve something for their children. People often come to feminism saying they don't want the world to be like this for their daughters. I also think people do things to carry on or pay back a legacy of compassion from their parents and grandparents.

Much of what people do is motivated by love, and wanting to pass love on to others, including their children.

There is a different between saying that women's greatest achievments are their children and saying that a particular individual feels that her greatest achievement is her children.

The first implies that all women should be judged on their child bearing abilities. Which negates the value of anything else a woman might do.

The second simply reflects the views of an individual about her own life, choices and priorities - to say she is wrong is patronising.

We're not parents, we're foster carers and even though we have both done well educationally and career wise I know we would both say that the 10 years we've put into this is our greatest achievement.

To take a child who can barely read, write or wash themselves to getting 8 gcse's in 3 years is a big deal.

And I didn't even give birth to them - I can seriously imagine thinking actual parenting is most people's biggest achievement.

In 2011 David Beckham was quoted as saying
“In my career there’s many things I’ve won, and many things I’ve achieved, but my greatest achievement is my family.

So he has already said exactly the same as Victoria, that he feels his family is a greater achievement than his career.

I'm rather flabbergasted you view being a pop star or a fashion designer as being better than a parent.

I really don't see an issue here. Let alone a feminist one.

Put this way, once dead no one will give a fuck about her work will they? Her legacy is her children. As are David's. And no I really couldn't give a monkeys about his career now or after passing. Coz life moves on.

Well said Sunny - hear hear.

I agree with MrsCakes - to deny VB the opportunity to say that her children are her biggest achievement is patronising. She might genuinely believe that to be true and to be pleased with the way her children are turning out. To deny her right to express her opinion is surely as bad as assuming her is only stating that opinion to keep men happy. Both mean that she is not allowed to state the truth as she sees it. They are after all her achievements to rate, nobody else's.

I disagree with your interpretation of what she said, in your second post mcmooncup. Assuming she actually said ' my kids' she probably meant that relating to the way her children have turned out.

That's not the same as having babies - the majority of us can do that, tbh. But you don't have to bring them up well or have them turn out to be human beings you're proud of. I'm sure that's the achievement she is talking about - I'm with her, bringing up decent hardworking respectful human beings is something to be proud of. And no way restricted to females.

Miaow

These questions are always pointless because nobody with kids is ever going to answer with anything other than 'my family'. I've seen men and women do it equally.

That's why they should ban parents from answering quizzes in the weekend guardian. How many times can you hear how much they value their kids. They should make a disclaimer to force people to give more interesting answers :)

She'd be lambasted what ever she said,I wouldn't swap with that poor cow for all the cash in the world (except maybe for one night to shag her husband)

I know what you mean Morris, it is a pretty boring answer for an interview. Reminds me of the Miss World ambitions of travelling the world and having children.

And I guess no parent would answer this question any other way publically.

Perhaps there are parents who - shock - actually mean what they say?

I am sure there are.

Pre-dc i would have mentioned a whole host of things I was proud of, but when I was actually asked in an interview about a year ago, I said my children. Everything else comes and gos. Raising the dcs into people I am and can be proud of is permanent.

I actually think it's quite nice that despite the high flying careers, huge amounts of money, celebrity friends etc. etc. that both Victoria & David Beckham have they both still count the family they have created & grown together as their greatest achievement.

Maybe I am just a really bad feminist .

I'm not entirely sure I understand why this is a feminist issue. Is VB somehow doing womankind an injustice by admitting that her children are her greatest achievement in life? I don't personally know any parent, male or female, who would give a different answer.

I feel bloody proud of all my achievements, however little some of them may seem to others. But my daughter will always be my greatest. Without question. I look at her and all I can ever think is, "God I did good!"

My greatest achievement is my children. Simple

Honestly I'm just a bit sick of wine towing the line saying this type of thing. She's done some pretty amazing things (sounds like I run the fan club) and just sometimes I wanna hear women say they've done other things apart from look beautiful and be a mother.

Yeah, but no... I'm childless, but I do recognise that bringing up children successfully, takes more investment in time and patience and so on than pretty much any other job. If you're a good parent, you can't just think after 10 years, I need a change, and go off and do something entirely different. (Well, I suspect many parents think it, but I don't think it counts as good parenting if you actually do it.) Having two successful careers alongside successful parenting makes it a pretty impressive package overall, but if she feels that the parenting has taken the most effort and the outcome least predictable, I can see how she counts it as her greatest achievement. (I'm assuming the children are turning out okay - I tend not to read celebrity magazines and the like, so don't know how they are.)

I dunno I get what the OP is saying.

I don't think I would say my children were my greatest achievement - I mean people reproducing is kind of what mammals do and looking after them and stuff is a given and it's criminal not to and their father and rest of family and teachers and friends and all sorts have gone into making them who they are and most of all it is them, they are people in their own right sort of thing.

It seems I am out of step with many parents on this thread which makes me wonder if I am a bit weird!