What is the term for phobia of becoming mother?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the term for the phobia of becoming a mother. Participants explore various related terms and express differing views on the existence and naming of such a phobia, as well as the emotional responses associated with motherhood.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants mention "tokophobia" as a term related to the fear of childbirth but note that there is no widely accepted term for the fear of becoming a mother.
  • One participant suggests "parentophobia" as a possible term, while another mentions a German term, "dambrokinrubber" syndrome, though its validity is unclear.
  • Several terms for the fear of childbirth are cited, including "lockiophobia," "maieusiophobia," and "parturiphobia," but no consensus exists on a term for the fear of being a mother.
  • Participants discuss the emotional complexities surrounding motherhood, including fear and societal expectations, with some sharing personal anecdotes about their experiences with pregnancy and childbirth.
  • There is a humorous exchange about the use of the term "to guilt," with participants debating its grammatical correctness and the trend of verbifying nouns in English.
  • One participant proposes "maternaphobia" as a potential term for the fear of becoming a mother.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on a specific term for the phobia of becoming a mother. There are multiple competing views and suggestions, and the discussion remains unresolved regarding the existence of an official term.

Contextual Notes

Some participants express uncertainty about whether the discussion pertains to a fear of childbirth or a broader fear of parenting. The conversation includes personal reflections that highlight the emotional and psychological aspects of motherhood.

  • #31
jackson6612 said:
Hi Evo

I'm an English learner, therefore I'm having a little difficulty in interpreting the sentence. What does that "it" refer to? Please let me know.
it ---> "Surely there are women that are phobic about becoming a mother, I was nearly phobic in my fear of going into labor, and I definitely did not ever want to be a mother.".
 
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  • #32
Thank you, everyone, for edifying me on how English works.

Root, thanks for the "it" help.

Is it because it's not "right" to not want to be a mother?

It's important to remind you again that I'm an English learner. Therefore, no offense should be taken.

Evo's latter sentence involving "it" doesn't really connect to the former. I have a phobia of being in closed places. Is it possibly because I have lived most of my life in open air? I'm sure Tarzan would be claustrophobic!

If it's not right/correct to not want to be a mother (=you should be a mother one day), then you would be more inclined to become a mother rather having 'momphobic' phobias. You would be 'momphilic'.

Best wishes
Jack
 
  • #33
jackson6612 said:
Thank you, everyone, for edifying me on how English works.

Root, thanks for the "it" help.



It's important to remind you again that I'm an English learner. Therefore, no offense should be taken.

Evo's latter sentence involving "it" doesn't really connect to the former. I have a phobia of being in closed places. Is it possibly because I have lived most of my life in open air? I'm sure Tarzan would be claustrophobic!

If it's not right/correct to not want to be a mother (=you should be a mother one day), then you would be more inclined to become a mother rather having 'momphobic' phobias. You would be 'momphilic'.

Best wishes
Jack

Maybe so, but 'momphobia' and 'momphilia' could also be interpreted as being fear or love of mothers, not fear or love of *being* a mom.
 
  • #34
Math Is Hard said:
That was no foot. That was a tiny hand reaching frantically for your debit card. :-p
:smile:
 
  • #35
Not for anything, but...

My older sister locked me in a closet when I was three. Consequently, for years afterward, I was terribly frightened by stores closing-up shop for the day. Once, we went to the mall and stayed late. It was like my worst nightmare come true: store after store pulling those metal gates down, and locking us in the concourses. I totally freaked out and ran out of a video store once, for almost the same thing. I clung to a telephone pole and could not be talked out of it until we made our way to the car.

I don't know if that's "claustrophobia" per se, but it was still pretty awful a phobia. I grew out of it somehow by about age 9 or 10; I'm not even sure how.
 
  • #36
Hi Francis

I believe everyone is a victim of a phobia of some kind in their younger years. I still remember many years ago while sleeping I fell off the bed and suddenly woke up. It was all covered up in darkness and being a kid I was very much afraid. I didn't even have the guts, courage to climb up the bed which was just at arm's length; I just covered my eyes and slept there all night!

Perhaps you have read my previous mentionings that I'm an English learner, and have a bad habit of bothering, annoying others by requesting them to clarify their English to me.

I'm sorry for this. I couldn't understand it, "and locking us in the concourses".

concourse: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/concourse

Best wishes
Jack
 
  • #37
jackson6612 said:
Hi Francis

I believe everyone is a victim of a phobia of some kind in their younger years. I still remember many years ago while sleeping I fell off the bed and suddenly woke up. It was all covered up in darkness and being a kid I was very much afraid. I didn't even have the guts, courage to climb up the bed which was just at arm's length; I just covered my eyes and slept there all night!

Perhaps you have read my previous mentionings that I'm an English learner, and have a bad habit of bothering, annoying others by requesting them to clarify their English to me.

I'm sorry for this. I couldn't understand it, "and locking us in the concourses".

concourse: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/concourse

Best wishes
Jack


No problem. The usage I was attempting was third on the Merriam-Webster's list (and not commonly used nowadays, I suppose). The Mall, you know, has stores on both sides of a long corridor or corridors, of sorts; and that is the "concourse" I was implying. Perhaps it isn't really precise: this mall happened to be enclosed (i.e. it had a ceiling; so therefore, it wasn't exactly "open," either). At the time, mall security also happened to be closing off the ends of the corridor; thereby, essentially, entrapping us as well. It was scary for a 7-year-old, no doubt. :)
 
  • #38
Thanks for the clarification, Francis.
 
  • #39
jackson6612 said:
Thanks for the clarification, Francis.

Don't mention it.
 
  • #40
Danger said:
Your opinion is correct. Python was using a common slang term which means to make one feel guilty about something.

yeah, no need to pawn me in English :(
 
  • #41
Hi Pyth

I'm sorry for this query. I hope you won't mind helping.

no need to pawn me in English

What did you really intend to say by the above sentence? You have used 'pawn' as a verb.

What definition of M-W fits here?
pawn: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pawn
 
  • #42
jackson6612 said:
Hi Pyth

I'm sorry for this query. I hope you won't mind helping.



What did you really intend to say by the above sentence? You have used 'pawn' as a verb.

What definition of M-W fits here?
pawn: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pawn

I believe he is referring to a "gamer" slang term "pwn".
 
  • #43
TheStatutoryApe said:
I believe he is referring to a "gamer" slang term "pwn".

I'm sure that'll clear it up for a non-English speaker. :smile:
 
  • #44
jackson6612 said:
Hi Pyth

I'm sorry for this query. I hope you won't mind helping.



What did you really intend to say by the above sentence? You have used 'pawn' as a verb.

What definition of M-W fits here?
pawn: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pawn

Haha, I was using a noun as a verb again in response to you criticizing me for using a noun as a verb.

To "pawn" generally means to show somebody up or defeat somebody. It's slang, just like the way I used "guilt".
 
  • #45
you can also use verbs as nouns with slang, like:

"wanna buy some smack?"
 

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