Ellie Gonsalves, the 32-year-old Australian model, has sparked a debate after sharing 117 reasons she does not want children on Instagram on Sunday.
After facing criticism from the public, the young model has broken her silence about the backlash.
In talking with Mamamia, she said: 'I have already received hundreds of DMs criticizing me, telling me how much of a horrible and broken person I am. But lots of these fears/thoughts ARE real,.'
She continued: '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.'
Despite the negativity, she shared that she also received positive messages from fans expressing gratitude for her openness about choosing to remain child-free.
She explained: '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.'
The Australian model and actress stirred up a frenzy among her followers after posting the list on social media.
The model, who sparked discussion with her list, reveals a mix of satirical and serious reasons behind it.
In the post, she lists her reasons, including postpartum hair loss, the possibility of the baby defecating inside you, changes to your vagina, a perpetually untidy house, the potential for childbirth-related rectal prolapse, and missing out on activities you love
'Societal pressure when it comes to this topic is truly questionable and I believe unfair towards those with differing opinions,' she said of the list.
'Very rarely do we see a voice in support of this, because let's face it, the public backlash can be too much,' the influencer added.
Gonsalves expressed her belief that public backlash often discourages those who advocate for remaining child-free.
Ellie married her long-term partner, entrepreneur Ross Scutts, in two luxury ceremonies in March. The couple, together for 15 years, has been openly vocal about their decision not to have children.
Watching the video:
Full list of reasons she doesn't want children
One person said: She’s got a point. In a world already overpopulated and Doubling every fifty years (in your child’s lifetime) it is not selfish to remain childless, quite the contrary. Life is going to become way more difficult for offspring.
A second wrote: I’m 52 and have never wanted a child. Doesn’t make me a bad person and definitely not selfish.
Another added: I have extreme anxiety and the thought of looking after a baby absolutely terrifies me. It’s not for everyone and we shouldn’t be criticising someone for their choice. I love her honesty!!!
Someone else commented: Choosing to be childfree is not selfish, whatever the reason for it. If only everyone was so thoughtful before choosing whether to be a parent or not.
