Impossible Motherhood
Encyclopedia
Impossible Motherhood is a memoir by Irene Vilar
. It is the second memoir published by Vilar, the first being The Ladies’ Gallery
.
groups and Vilar received death threats and hate mail after publication. The work was rejected 51 times before publishers accepted it. Dr. Lauren Streicher, clinical assistant professor at the Northwestern University School of Medicine suggested that Vilar could have mental health problems. The Sydney Morning Herald
reports that pro-choice groups have been largely silent in response to the publication.
Irene Vilar
Irene Vilar is an editor, a literary agent and an author of several books dealing with national and generational trauma and women's reproductive rights. Born in Puerto Rico, Vilar is the granddaughter of Puerto Rican nationalist Lolita Lebrón, who participated in an assault on the United States...
. It is the second memoir published by Vilar, the first being The Ladies’ Gallery
The Ladies’ Gallery
The Ladies’ Gallery was the first memoir published by Irene Vilar. The work was nominated for the 1999 Mind Book of the Year Award....
.
Controversy
Impossible Motherhood generated controversy on publication for the revelation that the author had 15 abortions in 17 years between the ages of 16 and 33. Vilar confesses to an "abortion addiction" and argues that the abortions were an act of rebellion against her controlling husband who did not want any children. In the memoir she described how between the ninth abortion and tenth pregnancy she "needed another self-injury to get the high." Vilar also blamed American society for her actions, stating that women were expected to be perfect mothers but to achieve professionally. She states that she still holds pro-choice views but admits abusing the lawful procedure. The cycle of abortions began during a relationship with literary critic Pedro Cuperman. Vilar remarried in 2003 and now has two children.Reaction
The work angered American pro-lifePro-life
Opposition to the legalization of abortion is centered around the pro-life, or anti-abortion, movement, a social and political movement opposing elective abortion on moral grounds and supporting its legal prohibition or restriction...
groups and Vilar received death threats and hate mail after publication. The work was rejected 51 times before publishers accepted it. Dr. Lauren Streicher, clinical assistant professor at the Northwestern University School of Medicine suggested that Vilar could have mental health problems. The Sydney Morning Herald
The Sydney Morning Herald
The Sydney Morning Herald is a daily broadsheet newspaper published by Fairfax Media in Sydney, Australia. Founded in 1831 as the Sydney Herald, the SMH is the oldest continuously published newspaper in Australia. The newspaper is published six days a week. The newspaper's Sunday counterpart, The...
reports that pro-choice groups have been largely silent in response to the publication.