“Being pregnant is an occupational hazard of being a wife.”
- May 24, 1819 – January 22, 1901
- British
- Queen of the United Kingdom, Empress of India
table of contents
Quote
“Being pregnant is an occupational hazard of being a wife.”
Explanation
This quote by Queen Victoria is a wry and strikingly modern-sounding critique of the gendered expectations placed upon wives in her time. Referring to pregnancy as an “occupational hazard” frames it not as a joyful outcome, but as a risk or burden inherently tied to the role of a wife. The language—typically used to describe dangers faced in the workplace—underscores the idea that marriage for women was closely bound to reproductive duty, often at the cost of their health, autonomy, or well-being.
Victoria’s personal experience informs this remark: she gave birth to nine children and often lamented the toll that constant childbearing and rearing took on her body and spirit. Despite her public role as the “mother of the empire,” her private writings frequently reflect frustration with the physical demands of motherhood. In this statement, she reduces the role of wifehood to something almost mechanical, implicitly critiquing a system in which women’s identities and labor were defined by their reproductive functions.
Today, this quote remains relevant in conversations about bodily autonomy, reproductive rights, and gender equality within marriage. It draws attention to how women’s roles have historically been shaped by biology and social expectation rather than choice. Victoria’s candid observation can serve as a reminder that historical figures—even monarchs—were not immune to the pressures of their gender, and that the struggle for women to define their roles beyond reproduction has long-standing roots.
Would you like to share your impressions or related stories about this quote in the comments section?
