Mama to Be?

WHO DECIDES IF, HOW, AND WHEN A WOMAN HAS A CHILD?

How many women in the world actually have an opportunity to decide if, how, and when to create a family? What are the reasons that women today are choosing – or refusing to choose – motherhood? Explore the Mama to Be? gallery and find out.

Read BIG IDEAS from thought leaders around the globe, meet HEROES working on behalf of women and mothers, experience creative work from our global community in YOUR VOICES, and more!

Take Action!

Heroes

Heroes working to advance the rights of mothers and children

Your Voices

Art, writing, and multimedia from women and men around the world

Breakdown in the Closet

Humaira Abid depicts the pain and disappointment that comes along with miscarriage in her intricate wooden sculptures.

More >
Kamlari Shop Girl

Meredith May tells the story of Anita, a Nepalese girl who was sold as a domestic servant for $75. Nine years later, Anita sought justice.

More >
Baby (Not) on Board

Artist Miriam Schaer embroidered toddler dresses with quotes that depict the prejudice and hostility women without children face.

More >
Unsafe Abortions in Liberia

Tecee Boley's podcast reports the toll unsafe abortions takes on women in Liberia—a country where elective abortions remain illegal.

More >
Agatha’s Wardrobe

Wanda Torres’ art reflects her conflicting emotions around having children and the reality of her ticking biological clock.

More >

Stories

Fiction and memoir from celebrated women writers

Broken Toys

Blessing Musariri tells the story of Tinashe, a young Zimbabwean boy. When his mother takes Tinashe away with her in hopes of starting a new life, her young son must confront incomprehensible loss.

More >
Waiting to Share

Leila Aboulela tells the story of a pregnant woman who recently moved to a new city for her husband's job; she is often alone, and feels uncertain and unmoored as she awaits the birth of her baby.

More >
Fish

Sierra Leonian writer Aminatta Forna tells the story of a girl with a charismatic mother who was the favorite wife of her father, but also the target of judgments and criticisms from others in their community.

More >
A Labor of Love

Samina Ali tells about her medically dangerous labor and delivery, during which she almost died, and what she learned from her infant son during her long period of rehabilitation.

More >
Letter to My Daughter

Maggie Gee describes the growing pains she experienced as her daughter grew older and as she attempted to balance work and motherhood.

More >
Butterfly Dreams

Beatrice Lamwaka's "Butterfly Dreams" is the story of a young woman who returns to her mother after five years of being a child soldier.

More >
The Gift

Valerie Mason-John tells the affecting story of a woman in Sierra Leone who lost many of her children and watched her country be torn apart by war and the search for blood diamonds.

More >

Mama to Be?

In Context

Big Ideas

Heroes

Your Voices

Stories

Meet The Mamas

Art Gallery

Major Sponsors

Mama to Be?

In Context

Big Ideas

Heroes

Your Voices

Stories

Meet The Mamas

Art Gallery

Major Sponsors

Search form