What it Means to Be a Woman

A larger population is exactly what developing countries need! Nevermind the droves of orphans one can find in those countries, lets assure that more continue to me made!

I think the reason the woman takes the blame of the shortcomings of a man is because she resides in the same hoishold as the man. She is directly responisble for up lifting him.
http://www.listsergeant.com/site/index.php/content/article/top_10_ways_to_be_a_woman/

Yes,female fertility does describe a woman.However, women possess many other valuable assets also.Beauty,intelligence,sensuousness,pleasure,empathy,calming nature,companionship,and,above all,the Woman is the single best argument against the theory that mankind evolved from apes.Evolution could never produce the geometrically pleasing female form.However, as for the male form,the jury is still out?

I want to second what liman8 said, that muslim childless women are buried in muslim graveyards with as much respect as other muslims. But I guess the writer said "muslim cultures", and "cultures" is a really broad term. I think maybe if it was "arab cultures" it would be more accurate, because if there is any evidence for what the writer said then it has nothing to do with Islam.

To Clarissa:
Go for it! I don't know the adoption laws, but there are so many children out there who need a good home. 46 is not "old." My friend adopted two siblings when she was in her mid-forties and the children were 5 and 7. They are a happy, healthy loving FAMILY and she will celebrate a second highschool graduation next year. Good luck and God Bless.

By the way, I have experianced the negative attitudes people, especially other women, have toward a childless woman. Not expressed openly, they see you as selfish, immature, pitiful, and indulgant. yes, even in the US, I am none of these things, but I feel others think I am. I have heard family speak negativly about a barren aunt of mine regarding her poor attitude toward children. No one knows how painful it is for me, not even my husband. How can I express my sense of loss after so many years of marriage?

I would love to have children, but unable to due to my husband's medical issures. I grieve for them as if it were a death of sorts. I would have adopted but my husband and I could not agree. He had no desire. We work with other people's children but there is no substitute for having your own. Adopting would allow me to use my gifts in another human beings life. I am 46 years old. Am I to old to adopt?

What a pity all women are lumped into a single stereotype -- if you're a woman, you automatically must want to be a mother! We should be evolved enough as a species to allow for differences even when it comes to reproduction. Old wives' tales and other forms of ignorance are the most difficult aspects of human nature to dispel and dismiss. Women who choose to remain childfree, and I am one, are not all selfish, afraid, immature or any other of the negative connotations associated with not wanting children. What about personal preference? What about simply not feeling like mothering anyone? What about not wanting to contribute to overpopulation? There are as many good reasons why many of us don't want kids as there are reasons why others do, old myths and silly stereotypes should have nothing to do with either choice. I have been fortunate enough to be married for 43 happy years to a wonderful, intelligent, kind man who also never wanted kids. Perhaps one day, women will be free to be themselves and not feel obligated to kneel to an intolerant societal "norm" that is neither healthy nor "normal" for all.

If only having a child is what a women is--then everyone is missing the true picture. First a woman is not a nobody, whether she has a child or not. She brings different thoughts and ideas that men would never see or understand. If most of the decisions in this world would see what a woman sees, then we would not listen to womem like Hilary Clinton who is trying to follow the agenda of the "man's world" just to impress. A woman does not have to yell, shout or be vulgar to impart truth, love, passion and value. We help to raise the bar when it comes to seeing what the world is trying to hide, what politics should not be like and keeping it real when "men" just see a plain picture. We bring passion to life--something some women forget and treat like men do--let's not be bothered by the responsibility of life--just pay for it to be gone and nothing emotional is attached to what God intended to be the real value--life cannot be destroyed because it is easier than doing what is Godly. I hope that Palin brings this passion to the White House, keeping it real with all the men around and not pushing any button they approve of only. It is time for a time, for a challenge on the American people that involves thinking before just doing. Thinking about the consequences, the effect on all people and knowing that taxes cannot take us to the next level. Let's be careful women, we should stand for what is not the norm, approval by men but approval by GOD, soul searching, passionate and compassionate. The next generation is already having trouble with staying focused, waiting and thinking through the necessary steps of not stepping on someone else. Our legacy for our children should affect every decision, because believing that we are all created equal keeps loosing its importance and no one wants to stand up for what is right anymore. Our country has made mistakes on both sides, republican and democratic, both not realizing the real picture is about our legace, our future that made the USA different from other countries. We do not need to be like Europe, we need to evaluate every action, stand apart and be tough or we will no longer exist as a country that offers freedom to all those who need it. Forget about our constitution, our freedoms and we lose--everyone of us and our children will not be standing for anything but themselves. We need to see we are going down and each of us has an important part to offer before we self destruct. See women should be heard and not just seen as only having b abies we do so much more. Listen up men--women offer insight that you would never see.

If only having a child is what a women is--then everyone is missing the true picture. First a woman is not a nobody, whether she has a child or not. She brings different thoughts and ideas that men would never see or understand. If most of the decisions in this world would see what a woman sees, then we would not listen to womem like Hilary Clinton who is trying to follow the agenda of the "man's world" just to impress. A woman does not have to yell, shout or be vulgar to impart truth, love, passion and value. We help to raise the bar when it comes to seeing what the world is trying to hide, what politics should not be like and keeping it real when "men" just see a plain picture. We bring passion to life--something some women forget and treat like men do--let's not be bothered by the responsibility of life--just pay for it to be gone and nothing emotional is attached to what God intended to be the real value--life cannot be destroyed because it is easier than doing what is Godly. I hope that Palin brings this passion to the White House, keeping it real with all the men around and not pushing any button they approve of only. It is time for a time, for a challenge on the American people that involves thinking before just doing. Thinking about the consequences, the effect on all people and knowing that taxes cannot take us to the next level. Let's be careful women, we should stand for what is not the norm, approval by men but approval by GOD, soul searching, passionate and compassionate. The next generation is already having trouble with staying focused, waiting and thinking through the necessary steps of not stepping on someone else. Our legacy for our children should affect every decision, because believing that we are all created equal keeps loosing its importance and no one wants to stand up for what is right anymore. Our country has made mistakes on both sides, republican and democratic, both not realizing the real picture is about our legace, our future that made the USA different from other countries. We do not need to be like Europe, we need to evaluate every action, stand apart and be tough or we will no longer exist as a country that offers freedom to all those who need it. Forget about our constitution, our freedoms and we lose--everyone of us and our children will not be standing for anything but themselves. We need to see we are going down and each of us has an important part to offer before we self destruct. See women should be heard and not just seen as only having b abies we do so much more. Listen up men--women offer insight that you would never see.

I am happy to see articles that address the involuntarily infertile woman, and that science and education are addressing this widespread looking for life partners could do with some education and empathy in this area. d problem. However, our ignorance isn???t limited to developing countries, couples or women. IMO unmarried men would benefit from education and empathy in this area, to widen their life partner choices.

When I was married in the late 1970???s, my philandering husband gave me Chlamydia, which at the time was a brand-new STD with no treatment or cure. It left me sterile: unhappy news for an adopted only child who wanted a family. After the divorce, every man I dated seriously ended the relationship after learning I couldn???t have his kids with varying reasons. One told me that he wanted babies with his DNA, not someone else???s; another wondered openly if I was a lesbian. I also found that during my childbearing years, single parent adoption was rarely allowed, must less encouraged. By the time scientific, medical and sociological advances had changed that dismal landscape, I was too old to take advantage of them.

At age 63 I am still single but hopeful of meeting a divorced or widowed man with children and grandchildren who won???t assume that my being childless is a sign of selfishness, immaturity, embarrassment or shame.

as a first-world, otherwise healthy woman in her 20's who's infertile, I'm very aware that the causes for this are largely environmental and wonder if the proper approach is to start addressing why so many of us are infertile in the first place. Shouldn't the fact that it is happening all over the world in every type of economy be a wake up call as to the consequences of current commercial and industrial practices on our well-being as a species? I'm not suggesting that infertile couples shouldn't be given access to the treatments that they need (hopefully with assistance because they are prohibitively expensive), but the causes for these problems are global in scale and that's a very short-term solution.

as a first-world, otherwise healthy woman in her 20's who's infertile, I'm very aware that the causes for this are largely environmental and wonder if the proper approach is to start addressing why so many of us are infertile in the first place. Shouldn't the fact that it is happening all over the world in every type of economy be a wake up call as to the consequences of current commercial and industrial practices on our well-being as a species? I'm not suggesting that infertile couples shouldn't be given access to the treatments that they need (hopefully with assistance because they are prohibitively expensive), but the causes for these problems are global in scale and that's a very short-term solution.

I just wanted to say there are many wrong facts there about "muslim culture" in relation to childbearing and mothorhood! I mean, what the hell. Islam surely forbids such hatred. To make it clear, there are many backminded people out there who follow stupid cultural discrimination agaisnt women, however, religion has nothing to do with it. Muslims don't necessarily NEED a son to bury them or honor them or other crap! Please!

As a muslim woman ( 27 years old / pharmacist ) , I just wanted to point out that it is not true that in our muslim culture childless women are not allowed to be buried in graveyards or sacred grounds . In regions where there is this belief the stigma is not religious ( Islam forbids such descriminations) but Social.

FYI Peru has an herb for fertility which was regarded as so valuable by the Spanish that it was often as sort after as gold. Maca was used traditionally in Peru for thousands of years due to it's ability to increase sperm production and mobility in men as well as create hormonal balance in women. An interesting article by a fertility expert is http://www.naturalhi.com/Downloads/Improve%20Fertility_Well4Life%20022508.pdf

The world is choking in people - helping everyone who wants children is working against the worlds ability to sustain those here now. Get over it and adopt a child!

Thank the Lord I live in the U.S. At the age of 28 while trying to get pregnant, we found out I had cervical cancer and had an immediate hysterectomy. We are surviving and thriving without children of our own and the extra time we have in our lives has allow us to support those we love around us with young children. We are able to give them special love and guidance from outside thier nuclear families. We do not believe this would be the case if we were so wrapped up in our immediate family needs and issues. It's really allowed us to support women and children in crises, whereas we most likely would not have supported them as in depth as we have been able to.