For me, it is freedom, freedom from everything: when I write, I'm not a woman. I'm not a Muslim. I'm not a Moroccan. I can reinvent myself, and I can reinvent the world.
Leila SlimaniRead
As a mother, you're only allowed to talk about the 'good' moments - not the ones when you've had enough and want to be on your own. Or just want to be a woman, not a mother.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote highlights the societal expectation for mothers to only share positive experiences of motherhood, neglecting their own personal needs and struggles.
In this quote, Leila Slimani reflects on the pressure placed on mothers to present a facade of constant joy and fulfillment in their parenting roles. It criticizes the stigma surrounding discussions of the challenges of motherhood, suggesting that mothers often feel isolated in their desire for personal space and identity outside of being a parent. The quote encourages a more honest dialogue about the complexities of motherhood.
Themes
MotherhoodIdentitySocietyParentingSelf-Care
In practice
Example use cases
During a parenting panel discussion, this quote can be shared to highlight the importance of honest conversations about motherhood.
More from Leila Slimani
All quotes →Authorities in Rabat believe that if we create a Moroccan character, even in a work of fiction, we are responsible for the image of Moroccan women.
Leila SlimaniRead
I remember that the first time I looked at my son, of course I felt love. But I think the first feeling was not love: it was fear. Someone is needing me. If something happens to him, what am I going to do? Maybe I won't survive if something happens to him? The fear was as big as the love.
Leila SlimaniRead
One of the big mistakes of the Moroccan elite and the elite in the Muslim world was to be afraid of the conservatives. They are fighting for their ideas. Why shouldn't we fight for our ideas?
Leila SlimaniRead
I, too, am interested in identity and Islam, which is what people expect of us. But one must not write what is expected. It's important for North African writers to show they have other things to say.
Leila SlimaniRead
In Morocco, there is an insistence on authority. Children are not encouraged to speak up in front of their parents. My parents were not like this. I was the kind of girl who could tell her father, 'No, what you are saying is totally untrue, and I don't agree with you.'
Leila SlimaniRead
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