Woman defends herself after receiving backlash for listing 118 reasons not to have children
Ben Thompson
Featured Image Credit: Instagram/@ellie_gonsalves
Deciding whether or not to have children is a deeply personal matter.
And by that I mean that it's something strangers on the internet argue about.
Because it's 2023 after all.
An Australian model who is proudly child-free has been hit with a backlash after she wrote a list explaining herself.
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There are very few things she hasn't thought of, and you can read the full thing in the vid below:
You may think a top ten list would suffice to explain her preferences for a childless life.
But Ellie Gonsalves went one step beyond and penned 118 reasons to shun school runs and night feeds.
As a result, she received a tidal wave of hate online, prompting her to hit back at her critics.
Writing in an Instagram post, the 32-year-old said: "I have already received hundreds of DMs criticising me, telling me how much of a horrible and broken person I am. But lots of these fears/thoughts ARE real.
"They resonate with not only me but with so many other women. A lot of them are small things that contribute towards a much bigger picture."
Gonsalves went on to say that the response proved her point - that others were threatened by her choices.
She said: "They further illustrate my main point: people are sold a certain life, and when they witness others choosing a different path, the frustration lies within themselves."
However, not all the responses to her list had been negative, as she also received some messages of support.
Gonsalves said: "It's been nice to read hundreds of comments from people who feel seen, people who have also had uncomfortable moments where others have questioned their choice and all that has done is made them feel awful or uncomfortable."
So, what were the reasons she gave for avoiding motherhood?
Among them were post partum hair loss, the fact your house will never be tidy, the risk of rectal prolapse during childbirth and missing out on fun activities.
Admittedly, she could have just written 'rectal prolapse' and called it a day.
Of her list, she said: "While some of those things on my list are satirical, many are serious and factual. Societal pressure when it comes to this topic are truly questionable and I believe unfair towards those with differing opinions.
"Very rarely do we see a voice in support of this, because let's face it, the public backlash can be too much."
How many people were convinced by Gonsalves' list remains to be seen.
But one thing is for certain - the debate over having children will continue to rage on the internet.
Because if we weren't arguing on it, what else would we use it for?