Are you expecting?

Another day and another embarrassing question "Are you expecting?"

In my opinion this is one of the most insensitive questions to be asked. It feels like a woman cannot even catch a breath. This question hurts when it comes from friends or strangers. It stings harder when it comes from close relatives. Let me explain how this question is insensitive.

Let's consider if a woman is pregnant. The question is still appropriate to be asked.
A lot of couples do not wish disclose the pregnancy in early stage (generally in the first trimester). Reasons may include religious belief or medical grounds (such as risk pregnancy). When the question about pregnancy is asked, it makes them uncomfortable because their do not wish to lie but do not intend to reveal.
A lot of couples want the complete freedom to disclose and announce their "good news". But when the questions related to pregnancy are asked, their right of announcement is taken away from them. This bothers them a lot.

Other possibility: The woman is not pregnant and she is asked if she is expecting - this is worse than medieval torture.
The woman may feel uncomfortable about her weight. Women in general feel that their bodies do not support them. When someone asks them if they are expecting, the attention is quickly moved to the visceral fat. The reaction one may expect from a woman will be visceral too.
A woman is trying hard to conceive and facing issues, if she gets asked such question then she will definitely get upset. She must have been going through a plethora of emotions and remedies to conceive. She would desperately want to succeed. However the question "are you pregnant" is definitely going to highlight her struggle in a bad light. When this question is asked, her emotions get mauled over and over.
Third scenario is where the woman is single or married not planning to have children - to them the question "are you expecting" is a pure insult. By asking this question, one questions the purpose of their existence. They may feel that the person asking the question is reducing their identity to a "child bearer" rather than their own actual identity. Beware of such women because they will respond to you viciously. Also be aware that you deserved that vicious response because you initiated the battle by asking a vile question.

In today's world I believe such questions are irrelevant. Nobody should be pressured to answer a question that they do not find relevant or they do not find comfortable to answer to. In today's world asking such question should be a punishable offence in my opinion. Nobody has the right to ask damaging and harmful questions and making others feel uncomfortable and threatened.

Pregnancy is a very sensitive topic and it should be handled with the most sensitivity and sensibility. Asking questions related to pregnancy to a woman is never appropriate - it never was in the past and it will never be in the future. Always remember this.

Lastly let the couple decide when they do want to announce their pregnancy. Your concern or questions towards there big announcement have no place in their lives. The strong message that we require in 2026 is simple: Live and let others live.