Nice article by Elena Ferrante in Guardian today

[LaContessaDiPlump]

www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2018/mar/10/elena-ferrante-nothing-comparable-joy-bringing-another-creature-into-world

I am sure it will be reviled as highly transphobic. I don't care; it's glorious.

C'mon, I can't be the only one, surely!

Elena Ferrante is one several Guardian columnists I never read (I started My Brilliant Friend twice and gave up about a quarter way through twice as it was so dull)

Apart from the fact it is by her the title in the article would make me avoid reading it.

I don't really get this "I'm so fantastic, I grew another creature" view of women kind. Well, yes individually most women love their children and having children enriches their lives, but it's not brilliant- it is the biological function of all female mammals. And I am a mother.

I'm the other way round - I loved My Brilliant Friend so much that I daren't read the next one yet, because then I'll have one fewer to read for the first time in the future!

Loved this too. Interesting angle on the commodification of birth and maternity. And appreciated seeing her describe her own pregnancy as an 'anxious mental struggle', that coming to terms with it & birth & newborn time was hard, but that this act of creation is regardless not something she has any wish to 'free' us from.

I like it. I was always in the middle being completely entranced by being a mother but eventually going back into my career and juggling like so many of us do. But I do think it's right to call out the jealousy towards women that's prevalent at present, especially with the vicious TA movement that is so very desperate to shut down and negate all aspects of women's biology.
We should feel free to celebrate our womanhood, our biology, birth and motherhood just as much as we celebrate career success and other aspects of our lives. Depressing that it's under threat at the moment.

Yes, it's the jealousy towards women angle that got my attention too. Otherwise I must admit I'm not usually on board with the 'Ah, my body is amazing' stuff. But she acknowledged that it is both good and bad, so I liked that too.

I think she has said something that we should, quite simply, be allowed to say.