Content creator Shenface has found herself at the centre of a heated online discussion after sharing her views on motherhood, parenting and the reasons some people choose to have children.

Speaking in a recent video, Shenface argued that some women become mothers for the attention and sense of belonging that comes with parenthood, rather than because they genuinely want to raise children. According to her, this can leave some parents feeling overwhelmed and resentful once faced with the day-to-day realities of caring for a child. She said:

"We are starting to see that a lot of women had their children for attention. Many women didn't actually want to be mothers. They didn't want to embark on a motherhood journey and that's why they feel so burdened."

Shenface went on to suggest that some parents struggle not because of relationship breakdowns or mental health difficulties, but because they never truly wanted the responsibility in the first place.

"Many of them despise the position that they're in. They despise waking up every day and having to look after this child."

Expanding on her argument, she recalled knowing a woman who regularly complained about being a parent while simultaneously encouraging others to have children themselves.

"I used to be around someone that every single day they would speak about their hatred for motherhood. And then one thing that they would do is they would consistently ask the two of us that didn't have kids when we were having children. And it allowed me to realise that you want us to join this realm of misery because you despise it so much. You feel very uncomfortable and distasteful towards us when we're around you because we actually lived journey of not having children."

The creator also claimed that social media can play a role in reinforcing this behaviour, arguing that some parents receive validation online that helps fill emotional gaps in their lives.

"That same void that they filled when they had the children is now filled from the live attention that they're getting. And that's why so many of them find it so easy to go into this downward spiral of neglecting their children. Many of them actually feel like they know what the end result will be, but they don't have the bravery to just get up and say, you know what, I don't want to do this no more."

Shenface's comments eventually turned to pregnancy itself, where she suggested people should think carefully about whether they are truly prepared for parenthood before bringing a child into the world.

"You lot are more flipping scornful of dashing the belly that you know you ain't going to look after."

The discussion has touched on a wider conversation that has existed for years around parenting pressures, parental regret and the realities of raising children. While the topic remains controversial, family experts often note that parenting can be rewarding while also being extremely challenging, and that expressing difficulties does not necessarily mean somebody regrets becoming a parent.

Recent figures from the Office for National Statistics show there were around 3.2 million lone-parent families in the UK in 2025, accounting for roughly 16 per cent of all families. The vast majority were headed by mothers. The figures also suggest family structures have remained relatively stable over the past decade, despite ongoing social and economic changes.

Many parents have also spoken openly in recent years about the pressures of balancing childcare, employment, finances and mental wellbeing, with social media often providing both support and scrutiny in equal measure.

As Shenface's clip circulated online, viewers were quick to weigh in with their own perspectives. One person commented:

"I don’t know why people in the comments are upset about this? If you know you chose to have children to be a parent then it doesn’t apply to you. From when men and women have consensual raw sex, be ready to potentially be a parent. However, if you know you are not ready to parent, don’t have them just to sit online and complain about how you hate being a mother or father."

Not everyone agreed with Shenface's assessment, however. One commenter wrote:

"There is just something about non-mothers having opinions about mothers that doesn’t sit right with me. What if the mother is just struggling mentally but doesn’t know how to express it? Motherhood is HARD!"

Another added:

"Hmm I don’t know, I think this generation is moving a lot smarter, in my opinion, when it comes to kids! Ain’t nobody having kids for attention! They are getting that money! And the ones I know that are having kids have set themselves up well. Kids aren’t a fashion collection you can go pick up and return, they are for life!"

The debate highlights just how divisive conversations around parenthood can be. While some believe Shenface raised uncomfortable truths about responsibility and motivation, others argue her comments overlook the emotional, financial and psychological challenges many parents face. Either way, the discussion has clearly struck a nerve, and people on both sides do not appear ready to stop talking about it any time soon.