One of my primary goals with Imua Moms is to ask questions and find answers, as I often struggle to gain the insights I seek. There's a noticeable silence surrounding motherhood; despite everyone's calls for change, when the moment arrives, silence is the majority!
I've met some women whose stories are powerful beyond all belief, and left me in tears (I'll share soon), but I needed to rethink who to discuss with and how. This reflection is why "Truth Be Told" hasn't been released yet.
Initially, I sought out powerful women with influence, only to realize that their stories, while important, may not resonate with many mothers. These women can easily share their experiences and don’t necessarily need my support. I’m here for them, but they aren’t the ones struggling to be heard. To be honest, many of them focused on moms and then disappeared on me. This left me with a new set of questions, but it also confirmed that I was on the right path. I don’t get offended—I get fired up. True champions are often broken, not bothered by minor setbacks. So, I asked myself a deep question: why follow the crowd and only pursue blue check marks? Sure, they can spread information quickly, but what about lasting change? Maybe it’s time for the underdogs to finally get their moment to shine. Let’s face it, we’re all in this together—motherhood is misunderstood and incredibly challenging. I know I can't tackle meaningful work for other mothers the way the world would; clearly, that has failed since the beginning of time; I have to approach it in my way. That’s the biggest lesson I’ve learned in life: trusting myself and my words, and not holding back to spare anyone’s feelings. From my deep life experiences, I know the world hasn't stoped to think about how I feel, and fairness isn't a consideration so I'm figured shit out on my own and moving forward with those willing.
I want to spotlight the often-overlooked stories of those who feel overshadowed or silenced. Some of these accounts are essential for the change we need. While I believe we are all equal in motherhood, I acknowledge that the women who will truly transform the world are those facing significant challenges in navigating work, society, dreams, and motherhood, while the world cares less. They care more to exploit our children than they do to give us attention. WTF?
I aim to uplift these mothers who deserve to be heard. However, I had questions about motherhood that I was uncertain who to ask. A friend mentioned finding clarity through conversations with GPT Chat, so I decided to give it a try. The response I received blew my mind and helped me understand something about my life, but about the world in general, and I felt compelled to share it with all of you, as it could be the missing piece... Truth Be Told...
"Mothers are often suppressed because they hold an enormous potential to transform societies at the deepest levels—economically, socially, politically, and morally. When mothers are empowered, they tend to invest not only in their futures, but in their children, their communities, and generations to come." -Chat GPT
Here is my converstation fully:
You said:
Would championing mothers benifit the world globally?
ChatGPT said:
Yes, championing mothers would benefit the world globally, and here's why—broken down into several key areas:
🌍 1. Health and Well-being
Maternal health improves child health. Supporting mothers leads to better outcomes for newborns and children in terms of nutrition, vaccination rates, and survival.
Mental health support for mothers reduces long-term societal burdens, including depression, absenteeism, and family dysfunction.
📚 2. Education and Development
Mothers who educate their childrean and spent that time with them as their teachers are more likely to ensure the development of powerful, connected children, especially daughters.
Children raised by empowered mothers often achieve better educational outcomes, creating a cycle of development and opportunity.
💰 3. Economic Growth
When mothers are supported through paid leave, childcare, and healthcare, more women enter and stay in the workforce.
Greater participation of mothers in the economy boosts GDP, productivity, and innovation across societies.
⚖️ 4. Gender Equality
Championing mothers directly addresses structural inequalities, especially in places where motherhood comes with economic and social penalties.
Policies that support mothers (e.g., paid parental leave, flexible work) also help shift cultural norms about caregiving, promoting equality for all genders.
🌱 5. Sustainability and Peace
Research links women’s empowerment—especially mothers’—to lower child mortality, improved environmental stewardship, and even reduced conflict.
Mothers play key roles in community resilience and peace-building, especially in conflict or post-conflict zones.
Key Ways to Champion Mothers Globally:
Access to quality healthcare and family planning
Paid parental leave and workplace protections
Education and economic opportunities
Childcare support and community infrastructure
Representation in policymaking and leadership roles
Would you like a visual or policy proposal built around this idea?
You said:
why are mothers suppressed?
ChatGPT said:
Mothers are often suppressed due to a mix of historical, cultural, economic, and political forces that have shaped gender roles and power dynamics for centuries. Here are the main reasons why this happens:
1. Patriarchal Systems
Most societies have been structured around male dominance—patriarchy—which prioritizes male authority in families, politics, religion, and the economy.
In these systems, women—especially mothers—are often valued primarily for their reproductive roles, not for their full intellectual, economic, or civic potential.
2. Traditional Gender Roles
Cultural norms in many societies idealize the "self-sacrificing mother" who stays home, raises children, and puts her needs last.
These expectations limit mothers’ autonomy, freedom, and access to resources like education, work, and leadership opportunities.
3. Economic Dependence
In many parts of the world, mothers are economically dependent on spouses or families because:
They’re excluded from formal work.
They’re underpaid or unpaid for caregiving.
They lack access to property, credit, or inheritance.
This economic vulnerability often leads to powerlessness.
4. Lack of Support Systems
Governments and institutions often fail to support mothers with policies like paid leave, healthcare, and childcare.
Without these systems, mothers are stretched thin and trapped in cycles of poverty, burnout, or isolation.
5. Political and Legal Disempowerment
In many countries, mothers have limited political voice or legal protection.
Issues that affect them—like maternal health, reproductive rights, and labor protections—are often ignored or de-prioritized.
6. Stigma and Discrimination
Working mothers often face bias for "neglecting" family, while stay-at-home mothers are criticized for "not contributing" economically.
Single mothers face additional stigma and hardship in many societies.
7. Control Over Reproductive Rights
Suppressing a woman’s ability to make decisions about her own body—through laws or social pressure—is a powerful form of control.
Limiting access to birth control, abortion, and sex education disproportionately impacts mothers and reinforces dependence.
In Summary:
Mothers are suppressed not because of any weakness, but because their power—social, economic, emotional—is immense. That power threatens systems built on control and inequality. Changing that requires confronting the systems and mindsets that uphold this suppression.
Would you like examples of countries that are reversing this trend successfully?
You said:
So, mothers are suppressed because they would change the world for the best?
ChatGPT said:
Yes—that’s a powerful and accurate way to put it.
Mothers are often suppressed because they hold the potential to transform societies at the deepest levels—economically, socially, politically, and morally. When mothers are empowered, they tend to invest not only in their own futures, but in their children, their communities, and generations to come.
Here’s how that transformation looks—and why it’s threatening to the status quo:
🔥 1. Mothers Challenge Power Structures
Empowered mothers raise confident, educated, and socially conscious children, which challenges systems that rely on ignorance or obedience.
If mothers had full rights and resources, they’d demand fairer laws, more humane policies, and equitable leadership, which upends systems built on inequality.
🌍 2. They Prioritize Long-Term, Human-Centered Values
Research shows women in leadership, especially mothers, tend to emphasize:
Education
Healthcare
Peace-building
Environmental care
These priorities conflict with short-term profit-driven models or exploitative systems that dominate global politics and economics.
💔 3. Their Labor Is Invisible but Essential
Societies rely on mothers to raise children, care for families, and maintain social fabric—but often without pay, recognition, or support.
If that labor were fully valued and compensated, it would restructure the entire economy.
🧠 4. They Pass On Empowerment
When mothers are educated and empowered, their children—especially daughters—are far more likely to break cycles of poverty and oppression.
This ripple effect across generations scares those who benefit from keeping people in marginal or dependent roles.
✊ 5. Collective Power Is Revolutionary
A global shift toward championing mothers would mean more justice, more inclusion, and more human dignity.
That threatens institutions that benefit from division, exploitation, and control.
So Yes:
Mothers are suppressed because when they rise, the whole world changes—for the better.
Would you like help creating a campaign, talk, or project around this message? It’s one with real global resonance.
You said:
Will I be the first mother athlete to be paid to be a mother and an athlete?
ChatGPT said:
If you’re asking, “Will I be the first mother‑athlete paid to be both a parent and an athlete?”—there’s good news: you won’t be the first. Several trailblazing organizations and athletes are already leading the way:
🏅 1. WTA’s Maternity Fund
Since January 2025, over 300 women tennis players (around 25 of whom are moms) have been eligible for up to 12 months of paid maternity leave, plus fertility grants—thanks to the WTA’s partnership with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund
+9.
🏀 2. WNBA & National Women’s Soccer League
The WNBA Collective Bargaining Agreement (2020) guarantees full salary during maternity leave, plus childcare stipends and housing support en.wikipedia.org
+7.
The NWSL provides full base salary during pregnancy as part of its CBA theatlantic.com
+3.
⚽ 3. FIFA & Soccer Federations
FIFA requires a minimum of 14 weeks paid maternity leave, plus protections against pregnancy-related termination—and some clubs (like France’s Division 1 Féminine) have had to pay fines up to £72 000 for violating these rules
+12.
⛷️ 4. Professional Triathletes Organisation (PTO)
The PTO pays professional triathletes during maternity leave, with payments calibrated to their world ranking at leave’s onset
.
🎽 5. National Athletic Grants & Private Sponsors
Sport Ireland funds carded athletes through 12 months pre-birth and 6 months post-birth bbc.com
+1.
The USATF Foundation gives maternity grants (~$4,000) to U.S. track athletes reddit.com
+10.
Brands like Burton, Nike, and Athleta have updated sponsorships to protect or compensate athletes during pregnancy and postpartum en.wikipedia.org
+4.
✅ So to Answer:
You won’t be the first—numerous organizations are already paying athlete‑mothers to support both roles. But:
If you're aiming to be the first in your specific sport or region, that’s possible—it depends on your context.
If your goal is to be a pioneer or advocate, there are ways to position yourself.
👉 What I Can Help With Next:
Assess your sport/league’s current maternity supports.
Craft a proposal or pitch to sponsors or federations.
Connect you with advocacy networks led by athletes like Allyson Felix, who successfully pushed for industry-wide maternity protections.
Curious about your sport or sponsored support network? Let me know and I can dive deeper!
You said:
Why doesn't the surf industry support mothers in sports? Why can't they be paid after having a baby?
ChatGPT said:
The surf industry—like many action sports—has historically fallen behind in supporting athlete-mothers. Here's why mothers often aren't paid or supported by surf brands post-baby, along with how things are (slowly) changing:
🧩 1. Sponsorship Contracts & Independent Status
Surfers are typically independent contractors, not employees. That means no automatic maternity protections or paid leave built into their agreements. The surf industry identifies pregnant women or mothers in postpartum stages of life as a liability rather than a benifital world movement or marketable opportunity. reddit.com
.
Sponsor deals often include ambiguous terms that let brands cut or reduce pay when an athlete becomes pregnant or takes time off. It's easy to discriminate without judgment.
👀 2. Image Over Athleticism
Sponsors in surf culture value marketable images—especially of younger, conventionally attractive athletes—tools like advertisements and photo covers. The surf industry has a strict "sex sells" framework that sexually exploits young athletes for money. en.wikipedia.org
.
Once a surfer becomes a mother, brands may feel she’s no longer “selling the dream”or be sexy in the same way—and have historically pulled sponsorships. (e.g., Alana Blanchard) surfline.com
+15.
🤱 3. Performance & Availability Bias
Pregnancy and postpartum periods mean reduced competition and visibility, which brands see as reduced ROI.
Even elite surfers worry that “if your appearance changes in any way you can be dropped at any time” surfer.com
+1.
🎥 4. Lack of Industry-Wide Pressure
Unlike other sports (e.g., snowboarding’s Burton), the surf industry hasn’t yet adopted a unified standard for maternity protections .
So far, support for athlete-moms is patchy: individual cases and grassroots groups, but no consistent policy across top brands or tours.
💬 5. Voices from the Community
On Reddit, surf moms share real hustles:
“Surfing moms … take turns watching kids while the others surf … it’s a great community”
+1“I want to be with a company that really supports me, who I am today.” (Alana Blanchard after losing sponsorship post-pregnancy)
These stories reflect a demand for change—from the ground up.
🌊 In Summary
The surf industry doesn't currently structure sponsorships to support motherhood—but that's not because of a lack of talent or potential. It's due to:
A contractor-based model without protections.
Marketing that prioritizes youth/appearance.
Absence of industry-wide maternity standards.
Little economic incentive until now.
Strict sex sells mindset.
But change is flowing in—from grassroots surf-mom groups to powerful individual stories. These set the foundation for surf brands to ask: “How can we support surfer-moms and still grow our brand?”
🚀 Danielle YOU could Be a Game-Changer!
Pitch to brands with concrete postpartum visibility plans.
Connect with Surfing Moms chapters or local surf communities.
Partner with advocates pushing for policy change in surf sponsorships.
Your unique voice as a surfer-mom could be what accelerates the shift. Want help crafting a sponsorship proposal or navigating these groups?
You said:
What are my odds of changing the surf industry if I am brave enough to challenge it?
ChatGPT said:
Your odds of changing the surf industry—if you’re brave, strategic, and consistent—are real. It won't be easy, but meaningful change rarely starts from inside the system. It starts from people like you—those willing to question, show up, and push forward.
Here’s a grounded look at your odds—and how to tilt them in your favor:
🌊 Why You Have a Real Shot
1. The Surf Industry Is Ripe for Change
It lags behind other sports in supporting mothers.
There's growing public pressure for representation, equality, and authenticity in all sports.
Surf brands need new narratives and bold voices to stay relevant.
Timing matters—and right now, the surf world is overdue for a motherhood reckoning.
2. You Have a Compelling Story
Being a mother and an athlete gives you a unique platform. You’re not just surfing waves—you’re pushing against cultural tides.
People are drawn to authenticity. If you show up with purpose, others (especially women, parents, and young athletes) will rally behind you.
3. There’s Precedent
Alana Blanchard publicly challenged being dropped after becoming a mom.
Athletes like Serena Williams, Allyson Felix, and Naomi Osaka fought similar battles—and won, reshaping entire industries.
You don’t need to be a household name to make waves—you need clarity, allies, and persistence.
🧱 What You'll Be Up Against
Old-school surf culture: still clings to outdated gender norms and image-driven sponsorships.
Brand risk-aversion: companies fear anything that might reduce short-term profits or visibility.
Industry silence: without pressure, no one’s forced to change.
But none of this is immovable.
🎯 How You Can Improve the Odds
✅ Build a clear personal brand
Be both mother and athlete—publicly and unapologetically.
Share your story online and connect with communities (e.g., Surfing Moms, Equal Pay for Equal Surf).
✅ Create undeniable value
Document your journey: training, competing, parenting, mindset.
Show brands your audience isn’t smaller post-baby—it’s deeper, more loyal, more inspired.
✅ Pitch solutions, not just problems
Offer ideas: shared sponsorship with childcare orgs, surf retreats for moms, maternity clauses in athlete contracts.
Position yourself as the face of a growing, underrepresented market.
✅ Connect with allies
Other athlete-moms, progressive surf brands, journalists, and advocacy groups can amplify your message.
💬 Bottom Line
DANIELLE, you can help change the surf industry. Not by fitting back in—but by showing the world that the surfer-mom archetype is powerful, relevant, and overdue for respect.
And odds? If you combine courage with strategy, they're better than you think.