Motherhood vs. Feminism, Which One Wins? | Spectrum Street Epistemology

Added: 2026-05-14

[00:00:00]Most women might not want to be a mother and that's kind of why I'm on slightly disagree because I don't think majority of women would want that. Therefore, majority would it would be the best life for them. I just think whatever makes them happy and fulfills them and that they want to do.

[00:00:14]>> If that was the case, that motherhood was fulfilling for majority of people then we wouldn't have feminism.

[00:00:20]>> I have a 1 and 1/ halfyear-old son and it's the most fulfilling thing I've ever done.

[00:00:31]All right, young lady. Where are we today?

[00:00:33]>> We're in Oakuckland.

[00:00:34]>> Excellent. Woo. And uh what island is this?

[00:00:37]>> The North Island.

[00:00:38]>> Unbelievable. Your education, I see, is paying off. And what is south of the North Island?

[00:00:44]>> Stewart Island.

[00:00:45]>> Stewart Island. I love these island people. Okay, get in lines. I'm from a continent myself. The best type of life for all women is to be a mother. Move.

[00:00:58]The best type of life for all women is to be a mother.

[00:01:06]The best type of life for most women is to be a mother. Move.

[00:01:17]The best type of life for some women is to be a mother.

[00:01:26]Let's go back to the original claim. The best the best type of life for most women is to be a mother. Move.

[00:01:36]>> Okay. Tell them why you strongly disagree.

[00:01:39]>> I think for most women something that's best for them is something that genuinely fulfills them. Whether that is being a woman or whether that is being academic or pursuing a career.

[00:01:47]>> So something that fulfills them. And do you think motherhood is fulfilling? I think for some people >> but not for most.

[00:01:54]>> No.

[00:01:55]>> How do you define most be over 50% like 51%.

[00:01:59]>> Yeah. And I think if that was the case that motherhood was fulfilling for majority of people then we wouldn't have feminism and we wouldn't be present in like the workplace and stuff right because then the majority of people wouldn't want that.

[00:02:11]>> Okay. Very interesting.

[00:02:14]Why are you on neutral? because I believe that you can be completely fulfilled as a mother and have all of the things that you you mentioned. I have a one and a halfyear-old son and it's the most fulfilling thing I've ever done. I understand that not everyone wants that life and that's absolutely their choice. That's why I'm neutral.

[00:02:37]I'm not saying most women, but I think a lot of women would find it fulfilling and I don't think it's an either or. I don't think you have to be a mother or everything else. You can be all of it.

[00:02:46]>> Is it more fulfilling than a hobby you have? It's >> the most fulfilling thing I've ever done. And I also think you don't know until you've done it. You can't It's not something you can necessarily.

[00:02:56]>> Okay.

[00:02:57]>> You don't know it until you've done it.

[00:02:59]>> Yeah. It's weird, >> huh?

[00:03:02]>> Why are you there?

[00:03:04]>> Um because I believe that I think the life for a woman or anyone to have is one that makes them happy. And I think most women might not want to be a mother. And that's kind of why I'm on slightly disagree because I don't think majority of women would want that.

[00:03:18]Therefore, a majority would it would be the best life for them. I just think whatever makes them happy and fulfills them and that they want to do.

[00:03:25]>> Okay. Don't move until I say move. The most important thing in life is to be happy. Move.

[00:03:42]Being a mother would make most women happy. Move.

[00:03:56]You're just neutral. Even though you're happy with being a mother, you don't think it would make most women happy?

[00:04:03]>> I think people should have free choice.

[00:04:05]And some people are different to me. I I think most women that I know that are mothers love being mothers.

[00:04:14]>> But you don't think that most >> But most women I know who are mothers are mothers by choice, not by accident.

[00:04:22]>> Okay. So they could be it could be an accident, they could be raped, they could be some other situation. And in in that case, those people Okay. So this is a little tricky. So we're gonna take out of the distribution people who had an accident and people who were raped. So we're removing them from the distribution.

[00:04:41]>> Chosen.

[00:04:41]>> Yes. So So the best type of life for women who have specifically chosen to be a mother is to be a mother. Move.

[00:05:05]Okay.

[00:05:07]It is possible for someone to be wrong about the idea that if they were a mother, they would like it. It is possible for someone to be wrong about the fact. Yeah. And move.

[00:05:22]Move.

[00:05:30]It is possible to be a good feminist and a mother move.

[00:05:43]>> Sorry.

[00:05:43]>> No, no, you're good. You're good. Tell No, you're good. Tell them why.

[00:05:48]>> I think you can be a good feminist and a mother. I think inherently being a mother doesn't stop you from being a feminist. It is rather why you choose to pursue being a mother maybe that can kind of impact whether you are a good feminist or not.

[00:06:06]>> That's a head.

[00:06:07]>> Yeah, >> that's a buffalo.

[00:06:09]You're going to you're going to Huh?

[00:06:12]>> Not a buffalo.

[00:06:13]>> It's a buffalo. Okay. Call it in the air.

[00:06:16]>> Buffalo.

[00:06:17]>> Buffalo. Buffalo it is.

[00:06:20]>> All right. So, you have a choice. You you can send her to that mat or you can go to that mat >> and I have to like agree with that.

[00:06:32]>> Yeah. You're going to argue this.

[00:06:34]>> You're going to not not believe it but you're going to argue as like a really thoughtful smart. You're going to send her Okay.

[00:06:40]>> Sorry.

[00:06:42]>> Okay. So, you're going to be someone smart, thoughtful, educated, not a crazy person. It is not possible to be a good feminist and a mother. Can we clarify what definition we're using for feminist? Just to make sure we're all set.

[00:06:56]>> What are you using? What are you using for feminist?

[00:06:58]>> I think that people that believe in equality and the empowerment particularly of women so that they can be of equal standing with men and of other genders.

[00:07:06]>> Do you accept that definition?

[00:07:08]>> Yes, I do.

[00:07:08]>> You accept that definition?

[00:07:10]>> Yes.

[00:07:10]>> Okay. So, say why it is not possible even though you don't believe this to be a good feminist and a mother.

[00:07:19]Um, being a mother requires sacrifice which can impact your ability to keep your momentum in your career and your social settings and your personal hobbies and things that fulfill you personally. So therefore, by putting those things on the back burner while you go on maternity leave or raise your young child or do the majority of the caregiving in a lot of situations means that you are not reaching your potential as a feminist to uphold the equality that you should be striving for to be equal to men and other.

[00:07:57]>> Okay.

[00:08:00]Not do you agree, but do you understand the claim? you understand the art.

[00:08:04]Repeat back to her what her reasoning is.

[00:08:07]>> That when you do become a mother, there's a lot of sacrifice that goes into it. And when that happens, you're not actively, I guess, fighting for equality when you put your work on hold for a child.

[00:08:18]>> Okay. Is that correct? Did you get that?

[00:08:20]>> Yeah.

[00:08:20]>> Okay. Did you understand her reasoning?

[00:08:22]>> Yes, I did.

[00:08:23]>> Okay. New claim. Don't move until I until I say move. It is possible to be a feminist and be happy. Move.

[00:08:42]Tell them why you slightly disagree.

[00:08:45]>> Because to be a feminist, you have to be striving for a place that we are not at yet. So you must have a level of frustration and disappointment in the world that we have to exist as women in the space that we currently sit.

[00:09:02]>> Was that convincing of you to move? If you are, you're free to move. If not, you can stay where you are.

[00:09:09]>> It is possible to be a feminist and happy. Why are you there?

[00:09:12]>> I mean, if you choose to be a feminist, it's probably something you believe in.

[00:09:15]And if you're happy being frustrated and chasing for the change that you want to see in society, then I think you are able to be happy and pursue feminism.

[00:09:24]>> So you are frustrated, >> but maybe you're happy with that frustration. That's what drives you.

[00:09:29]>> Oh, so like the frustration is fuel.

[00:09:32]>> Yeah. And you like it.

[00:09:37]>> On a scale from 1 to 10, where are we on equality between the sexes?

[00:09:44]Um, I would say probably like a six.

[00:09:51]>> Where were we in 1950?

[00:09:56]>> Two, three to three.

[00:09:58]>> Where were we in 1850?

[00:10:01]>> One.

[00:10:03]>> Where where where are we in in compar say say we like us in like I consider us a we even though we're a different country. Where where are we in relation to Saudi Arabia >> on a scale of like difference >> one? Yeah. 1 to 10 >> nine being like very different and bita than >> No. No. Like where are we in relation to Saudi Arabia? Are we more equal or less equal?

[00:10:28]>> More equal I'd say.

[00:10:29]>> Are we a lot more equal?

[00:10:32]>> Fair bit.

[00:10:34]>> Okay. Everybody go back to neutral.

[00:10:35]Everybody go back to neutral. I would rather be a good feminist than be happy.

[00:10:41]Move.

[00:10:53]>> I would rather be a happy mother than a happy feminist. Move.

[00:11:04]>> You can't be both.

[00:11:04]>> You cannot be both. You have a choice.

[00:11:07]You have to choose one.

[00:11:11]>> You're neutral. Tell us why.

[00:11:13]>> I think that if something makes you happy, then it shouldn't matter what it is. And if like if you're not a happy feminist, but you are a happy mother or the other way around, you're happy in what you do and hopefully like secure in it. And that's all that should matter to you. Personally, >> if being an anti-feminist makes one happy, one should pursue that move.

[00:11:42]Ah, so now we know it's not just being happy. It has to be happiness that's oriented toward particular conclusions, particular moral conclusions.

[00:11:53]Okay?

[00:11:55]If the equality of the sexes were 10 out of 10, in other words, if there was equality between the sexes, perfect then more women should be mothers move.

[00:12:16]>> Why are you in the neutral?

[00:12:18]>> I don't think that has any bearing on whether people choose or do not choose to be mothers. most people.

[00:12:25]>> What do you think has a bearing on who chooses to be a mother?

[00:12:29]>> I think it's an innate want or not.

[00:12:36]I don't think I chose to be a mother because feminism was at a certain point now or not. I don't think that changed my path. If a woman was not happy as a mother and wanted to abandon her three-year-old child to pursue a career, she should do that move.

[00:12:59]>> Abandon.

[00:13:00]>> Abandon.

[00:13:01]>> Abandon. Give up for late adoption.

[00:13:03]>> Give up.

[00:13:04]>> Yep. Give up the child to pursue a career.

[00:13:07]>> To who?

[00:13:12]Giving them to >> They're giving to them to the local adoption center. Assuming there is such a thing here, I have no idea. But yeah, there is. Okay. There must be there must this state must have some service.

[00:13:24]Okay. Why are you on the strongly disagree? Tell tell her.

[00:13:28]>> Because I believe that once you've got a kid, you've got an obligation to see it through and there are ups and downs. But I also think that it doesn't just a mother is not generally not the sole parent. There are two people that go into making a baby and there's another person that could be taking on some of that responsibility or all of that responsibility and then otherwise maybe to a family member not the local adopt adoption agency.

[00:13:50]>> Do do you understand her reasoning?

[00:13:51]>> Yes, I do.

[00:13:52]>> Do you agree?

[00:13:55]>> Partly I agree that like it is an obligation that you have to take on when you become a mother.

[00:14:00]>> A woman wants to be a mother. She's in a loving relationship with a partner. She gives birth to a baby who has who is cognitively disabled. The mother and the father know that that would be a source of tremendous unhappiness for them. The mother wants to give up the child. The mother should give up the child. Move.

[00:14:44]Why are you on neutral?

[00:14:46]>> I think it's a twoperson decision. So you said the mother wants to give up the child, the mother should give up the child. I think obviously there's another party involved. Again, like I said before about obligation. You've committed to having this child, but also I know that uh a severely disabled child could be something that some couples and some people cannot manage and they need to do what's best for the child. And in some cases that might be to find alternative care for that child.

[00:15:14]>> Okay, everybody go back to the neutral.

[00:15:19]The world would be a better place if fewer than 90% of women were mothers.

[00:15:25]Move.

[00:15:32]The world would be a better place if fewer than 50% of women were mothers.

[00:15:36]Move.

[00:15:43]The world would be a happier place if every woman was a feminist. Move.

[00:16:02]The world would be a happy pl happier place if every woman was a mother. Move.

[00:16:18]Women who suffer from severe cognitive disabilities should not be allowed to have children move.

[00:16:33]>> Why are you there?

[00:16:35]>> I think when you ask someone who has cognitive disabilities, you've probably grown up surrounded by this, right? You probably know what is best for your child, what you wanted. And just because you are like victim to some bad genetics doesn't necessarily mean that your child can't have a nurturing environment. Like if you want a child, I think you should have a child. Especially when you have a cognitive disability and you choose to be a mother, you probably make the right decision knowing the resources and capabilities that you have.

[00:17:06]I would rather be a good feminist than a happy mother. move.

[00:17:20]Okay, we're going to return to the original claim. The best type of life for most women is to be a mother. The best type of life for most women to be a mother is to be a mother. Move.

[00:17:38]>> Did you move?

[00:17:39]>> I can't remember. I think this is where it was. Yeah.

[00:17:41]>> Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Did you move?

[00:17:43]>> I don't think so.

[00:17:44]>> Okay. Did you move?

[00:17:45]>> I don't think so either.

[00:17:46]>> Okay. What evidence, reason, or argument would have persuaded you to move?

[00:17:52]>> Maybe facts regarding how many women actually want to be mothers.

[00:17:59]>> Yeah.

[00:18:00]>> What would persuade you to move? What what were you what would be the criteria for you to move?

[00:18:07]Uh, I think the same just like more facts and statistics and like I don't know. I don't know if there would be a argument like that that would persuade me to move because I haven't heard it.

[00:18:16]>> If I told you this isn't true, but just let's pretend for like two minutes it's true. We do a survey of everybody who's a mother.

[00:18:23]>> Yeah.

[00:18:23]>> 50 50% of mothers are happy that they're mothers. Would that make you move?

[00:18:32]>> Maybe. Yes, probably.

[00:18:33]>> Which way would you move? I'd move that way to >> n 80% of women who are mothers say they're happy because they're mothers.

[00:18:40]Would that make you move?

[00:18:42]>> No, I think I would stay here.

[00:18:44]>> 99% of all women who are mothers are happy. Would that be sufficient evidence for you to move?

[00:18:52]>> Yeah, I think I'd move, but I would probably just move to neutral.

[00:18:55]>> Okay. What would persuade you? What specific fact or facts?

[00:19:00]>> Only probably a reworking of the question. Oh, fair enough. How would it have to be reworked?

[00:19:07]>> The most would need to be more specific.

[00:19:11]>> Okay.

[00:19:12]>> All right. Give him a round of applause.

[00:19:14]Awesome.

[00:19:16]Hey, did you know only half of you watching a subscribed? If you're enjoying the content, hit the subscribe button to keep the videos coming.

[00:19:23]Thanks.