Tanya Sweeney: Why can't women like Charli XCX be taken at face value when they say they don't want children?

"The American actor is a host on the SmartLess podcast, and while interviewing the British singer Charli XCX, Bateman waded in with an interesting question: whether she would like more than one child. Not whether she might like children at all, you might note."

"As a well-liked comedy actor, Jason Bateman rarely seems to put a foot wrong. Until last week, that is."

Jason Bateman has been widely regarded as a well-liked comedy actor who rarely makes public missteps. He co-hosts the SmartLess podcast. During an interview with British singer Charli XCX, Bateman asked whether she would like more than one child rather than whether she might want children at all. The phrasing assumed an existing desire for parenthood and focused the conversation on the number of children. The moment represented a rare occasion when Bateman's line of questioning attracted attention for appearing presumptive about a guest's reproductive preferences.

Read at Independent