Just My Baby Daddy: Does What We Call Ourselves Really Matter?
February 24, 2009 by WeParent
The fact that President Obama chose to identify himself as Black instead of Cablanasian, B-Rock or Michelle’s Babby Daddy mattered to African-American voters across this country. Of course, he brought much more than a racial identity that many of us could identify with, but we contend that this label endeared him to us and influenced just how much Black folks in this country would embrace him. And, in return, his rise and ultimate victory buoyed many of us to a new place of faithfulness, optimism and accountability. The label he chose mattered. And, when Fox News referred to the now First Lady as “Barack Obama’s Baby Mama,” outcries from the Black community suggested that that mattered, too.
We want to know what you think:
Does what we call ourselves–baby mama, baby daddy, co-parent, single mother, bonus dad–really matter? Does it influence how we are perceived? Does that even matter? And, more important, does it influence how we perceive ourselves?
And, for a little inspiration, check out this oldie but goodie:
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Just My Baby Daddy: Who Cares What We Call Ourselves?
WeParent Wednesday: Speak Your Mind!
Just My Baby Daddy: Who Cares What We Call Ourselves? : WeParent on Tue, 24th Feb 2009 2:49 am
[...] your voice to the Co-spectives discussion about whether the labels we use to describe our parenting relationships really matter. [...]
karin on Mon, 6th Apr 2009 10:45 pm
Calling ourselves and parent’s of our children names like “baby daddy” and “baby momma” suggest that there is a lack of respect and relationship between parents. Certainly, couples end their relationships for various reasons, but a break-up does not have to mean that parents do not love or care for one another. Terms like those cheapen the relationship that resulted in the child. I also believe that issues of race and prejudice are embedded in terms like “baby momma and daddy.” “Baby momma” conjures up images of “welfare queens,” a term that has been used by conservatives to suggest that black women have children in order to receive more welfare. So, I guess what I am saying is that I do not use those terms, nor do I allow anyway to use such terms around my child.