A WOMAN who previously didn’t want children has admitted she regrets that decision now she’s nearing 40.
Melissa Persling, from Idaho, US, spent most of the last two decades focusing on her career.
At 22-years-old, Melissa married her childhood sweetheart, but they divorced eight years later when she realised they both wanted different things, she revealed to Business Insider.
He wanted a traditional family with kids and wife, and she wanted to be a bit more independent and excel in work.
Now 38, Melissa says she feels “selfish” and “betrayed by feminism” in a follow-up interview with Fox News.
“For me, it’s definitely started to feel hollow and meaningless.
“It’s taken me to this point in my life to realise that that’s not a life that’s going to bring you happiness,” she told the network.
“I feel unbelievably betrayed by feminism,” she added, “I don’t want to put it on the movement because I believe you make your own choices and everything I’ve done up until this point in my life has been my choice, and that’s on me.
“But I was constantly fed this idea that women can do everything. We don’t really need men.
“I kind of want to go back to some of those teachers and coaches and say, ‘What did you mean by that? Because we can’t do it all.'”
Now, Melissa says she’s “terrified” she’s already “missed the opportunity” to start a family of her own.
And that’s not all, since her story went viral Melissa confessed she’s been trolled relentlessly on social media.
She calimed that she’s been called “horrible things” and people from both sides have been digging their claws in, some calling her a ‘stupid feminist’ and others mocking her turmoil.
Despite not considering her self to be a feminist “at all”, Melissa does think feminism is blame for her situation, at least partly.
On X, formerly Twitter, some people questioned Melissa’s stance, noting that many people still have kids later in life.
“You’re only in your 30s. Feminism isn’t the problem. Lack of basic biology awareness is,” one wrote.
Another commenter said: “She can adopt and be a single mum if not wanting to get married.”
“You can have kids and be a feminist. The two are not mutually exclusive,” a third added.
