The world is talking about Hannah Gadsby’s Nanette Netflix special about her life as a comedian, a lesbian, a
“not-normal.” It’s powerful and moving, at times funny, but at times deadly
serious, and she made me think, and I hope many others.
As a childless woman, I know I am also a not-normal, although to a lesser extent, as I only
stand out when asked the question, “do you have children?” So my No Kidding
status helps me, just a little, understand what it means to look at the world
from the outside, and most importantly, teaches me that not everyone views the
world with the same perspective; though sadly I know there are many, many people
who just don’t get it, and don't make any effort to understand.
For example, my MIL can never understand that it was okay
that her daughters-in-law might have different tastes in art or clothing, and my
BIL casually dismissed the often callous ways people with children treat or
discard their childless friends, without even bothering to try to see something
from our perspective. As Infertile Phoenix pointed out in an excellent post, her sister has never understood it either.
I hope though, that the more often people like Hannah Gadsby
speak out about the way they are treated, then more and more people will start
considering their family and friends and fellow humans as individuals, with
different experiences and perspectives, and begin to show some sensitivity, some empathy.
Gadsby ends on hope though, saying, "there is nothing
stronger than a broken woman who has rebuilt herself," and looking around
this community, I have to say, I agree.
