Trump‘s Advice to ‘Endure’ Echoes Ancient Blame of Mothers, Experts Say
WASHINGTON – Former President Donald Trump’s recent suggestion that pregnant women should simply ”endure” discomfort rather then seek relief, even from over-the-counter medication like Tylenol, has sparked criticism and drawn parallels to historical patterns of dismissing and minimizing female pain, according to medical historians. The comments, made during a press conference, highlight a long-standing tendency to place the burden of managing pregnancy-related discomfort solely on women, and to question their responses to it.
The remarks are particularly concerning given ongoing debates about access to reproductive healthcare and the often-underestimated realities of pregnancy. Experts warn that such advice not only disregards the legitimate suffering experienced by expectant mothers but also perpetuates a harmful narrative that devalues women’s health concerns. This echoes centuries-old beliefs that wrongly attributed fetal growth to a mother’s thoughts and feelings, effectively blaming her for potential complications.
“It’s the classic way to blame the mother… again and again,” explained Mary E. Fissell, a professor of medical history at Johns Hopkins University. She noted that historically, there was a widespread belief in “maternal imagination” – the idea that a pregnant woman’s desires, emotions, or even thoughts could directly influence the development of her unborn child.
Fissell, a specialist in 17th and 18th-century medical practices, elaborated, stating this concept posited that “what a pregnant woman wants or feels or imagines will shape the form of her unborn son.” This historical context underscores how Trump’s advice fits into a pattern of minimizing female experiences and placing undue obligation on women for the outcomes of their pregnancies.
Trump himself acknowledged the possibly insensitive nature of his directive. “You know, it is easy for me to say that they endure,” he admitted. “But sometimes in life or in many other things, you also have to endure.” Though, critics argue that such a statement fails to recognize the complex physiological and emotional realities of pregnancy and the importance of safe and effective pain management options.
