In many African societies, women are directly or indirectly pressured to bear children. DW finds out what women think of this issue as International Women's Day approaches.
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00:00What do you think is the most important thing for a woman to have children?
00:08I think the society should stop pressurizing women to have kids
00:12because it's their opinion, it's their body
00:16and they have the right to choose to have kids or not to have kids.
00:19Even though I don't have a child and I'm okay with the way I am,
00:22but you know, you have a lot of issues maybe within the family or the husband.
00:27There are cultures here, in our country,
00:30where a woman who doesn't have children is considered useless.
00:36Can I say that? She's not considered a woman.
00:38Here, for us, in most cultures, a woman should have children.
00:42She should have children with her partner.
00:44Form a family.
00:46No, it's not acceptable.
00:48You have to have children.
00:49You have to continue with the procreation.
00:51No, they're not wrong.
00:53But I think it shouldn't be common.
00:56It shouldn't be a normal thought.
00:59A woman should want to have children.
01:02I think that's her natural desire.
01:05Honestly, I think it's up to a woman and what she wants.
01:08It's her body, it's her choice.
01:10No culture, no environment, no society is up to tell her what to not do and do with her body.
01:17You know, a child gives you another chance to live.
01:51A woman should have children.
01:53A woman should have children.
01:55A woman should have children.