DO WE WANT TO EMANCIPATE OURSELVES FROM THE ROLE OF MOTHER?

“He reduces us to a role of childbearer, mother, wife, everything we want to emancipate ourselves from.” This was the summary given by Valentine Hendrix, a female student at the Catholic University of Louvain, after a recent visit from Pope Francis. Her statement raises a critical question: Do we want to liberate ourselves from the nurturing roles that have defined femininity for centuries? Do we want to “emancipate” ourselves from our families and homes?

Pope Francis visited the university, where students demanded a “paradigm shift” for women in the Church. He reaffirmed traditional roles, positioning women as the nurturing backbone of the Church.

In an era where women are pushed to break through glass ceilings and climb corporate ladders, is the role of mother and wife really something we wish to abandon? There’s undeniable pressure to pursue careers and assert independence, but can a career truly rival the depth of love and fulfillment that comes from motherhood?

Will your job be there to eulogize you when you’re gone, or will the memories you’ve woven into the fabric of your family be what truly matters? Any modern psychologist would likely ask, “What happened to you as a child?” This is the crux of it: mothers shape the emotional landscape of their children, laying the foundation for who they will become. Show me the boy at seven, and I’ll show you the man. This is a powerful, possibly THE most powerful position in society.

The reality is, many women find incredible fulfillment in raising the next generation and supporting their families. It’s a journey filled with challenges, yes, but also immeasurable rewards. The Pope’s views may sound dated, but they remind us of the depth and richness that traditional roles can offer.

Let’s not kid ourselves: being a mother and partner is no small potatoes. Women can—and do—excel in both the workplace and the home, but we need to change the narrative that embracing motherhood equates to “settling.” Can we please stop using “emancipate” when referring to the miracle of becoming a mother and wife? It’s not a prison we’re escaping; it’s a beautiful journey filled with love and purpose.

In a world where everything seems to be about achievement and accolades, let’s take a moment to appreciate the profound impact of motherhood. Let’s be honest and remind young girls that most people don’t end up with a thrilling career, most people end up with jobs that are usually frustrating and sometimes (dare I say most-times) meaningless. The role of mother, though, will never be meaningless…unless we keep speaking about it the way we have started to.

Let’s not pretend that being ordained is the only way for women to assert their influence. Women can be catalysts for change without wearing a collar. The nurturing, caring qualities that many women embody lead to a deeper kind of empowerment—one that celebrates the unique contributions they make to families and communities.

So, instead of pursuing paths that may detract from what will give women’s lives a deep sense of meaning, paths that capitalism loves to sell, let’s redefine what empowerment looks like. Let’s embrace all aspects of womanhood, even the softer, more vulnerable sides. As Brené Brown so eloquently reminds us, there is immense strength in vulnerability.

Words are very powerful. Let’s rethink our “emancipation” from the roles of wife and mother. Let’s not be so desperate to escape our families and our homes.