Who would have predicted that pregnancy would become so controversial?
Of course, in 2025, that’s mostly thanks to social media.
Are pregnant women allowed in pram parks? At the front of the line? Drink a full-coffee coffee?
Or, as Franki Bartoli asserts, entitled to a seat on public transport?
“Chivalry for pregnant women doesn’t exist”
Franki, who has 35,000 followers on TikTok, posted a clip about the train she was on yesterday. She filmed herself standing on a packed train, with text over it reading: “‘I guess chivalry for pregnant women doesn’t exist anymore.”
A quick shot of her face showed how unimpressed she was with the many seated.
She wrote in the caption, “I still can’t believe not one person even offered.”
The polarising post by Franki at 32 weeks gestation quickly attracted 9,000 comments.
There were those who thought her attitude was entitled:
“Why is YOUR pregnancy anyone else’s issue?”
“Why is your pregnancy MY problem — I hate this societal expectation.”
“I mean, it was your choice to get pregnant. Not theirs.”
Then, obtusely, “Wanted equality got equality.”
This viewer also had an interesting take: “Y’all what is with the ‘I’m a mother I’m more important than you bow down to me’ attitude.
“I don’t care that you’re pregnant. I care that I’ve had a long day, my back and feet hurt, some people could be disabled. You’re not entitled to anything because YOU decided to have a kid. Golly man.”
“When did people lose their empathy for pregnant women?”
However, many viewers showed Franki respect and decency in their responses.
“I would be so embarrassed if my husband didn’t offer a pregnant woman to sit down in his place,” read one comment, and another said, “These comments are shocking. When did people lose their empathy?”
This viewer felts for the mum-to-be: “I’m so sorry. The ‘No one owes you anything’ mentality is what’s wrong with society. No one owes you anything, but not all interactions are transactional. It costs nothing to be a kind, empathetic, person for nothing in return.”
Finally, this user was much more blunt: “So many pick-mes in the comments. Yes they don’t have to but they SHOULD. We as a society have lost basic manners and respect.
“Individualistic selfish weirdos.”
Kidspot reached out to the creator for comment.
