Carolin Kebekus, a comedian and new mother since January, has been facing a wave of online hate even before giving birth to her daughter. Social media comments directed at her have been cruel and some even went as far as suggesting she should have an abortion. In response to this, Kebekus shared with the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland (RND) that she doesn’t take these comments seriously, but she was caught off guard by them.
Since becoming a mother, Kebekus has noticed the societal pressure on women, especially mothers, more acutely. She expressed that she had no idea about the level of pressure mothers face. She stated that she is starting to understand what other women have to endure without being able to talk about it. Kebekus highlighted the fact that everything a mother does is scrutinized as if she has created a product for society and must now act in a certain way that pleases everyone.
According to Kebekus, society expects mothers to bear everything and hold families and communities together. However, she believes that women should be able to share responsibilities with their partners if they choose to. She acknowledged that it can be challenging in some aspects, such as when breastfeeding, as the child may not always cooperate with a fifty-fifty split, despite one’s feminist ideals.
Kebekus’s experience sheds light on the harsh reality of online hate and the immense pressure on mothers to meet societal expectations. It also brings attention to the need for more open conversations about the challenges faced by mothers and the importance of sharing responsibilities within families. The comedian’s courage in speaking out against the online hate she has received serves as a reminder of the resilience and strength of mothers who navigate through such adversities.
