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1.3 Motherhood as a Determining Factor for Women 
Beauvoir writes in the book The Second Sex “Women are always defined by their Glands 
and Womb”. This statement stands true for each girl of every social and cultural background. It 
has been always expected that a girl after a certain age will get married and give birth to children 
and become a complete women. But the in rare occasions the female chooses motherhood or in 
most cases it always has been chosen by their male counterpart or the family. Simone De 
Beauvoir in the chapter “The Mother” of her book The Second Sex stated that the usage of 
precautions during any physical relation was not enforced and women were prohibited to abort 
the child. Abortion was prohibited because it was considered unsafe and risky also because it 
was prohibited in religion. Beauvoir argues that instead of enforcing, if the women were given 
the right to choose motherhood then they would have fully appreciated their child. And with the 
mother fully appreciating her child, he would lead a better life then he/she was and many lives 
would be rescued from being destroyed. This traditional role of “mother” is played by the 
women in the epic The Mahabharata also but as said, the choice has not been theirs wholly. And 
because the motherhood was not fully desired Karna was thrown in the river and grew up in a 

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Shudra family. If Kunti was ready for the motherhood, instead of being forced, then she would 
have accepted Karna lovingly as her own child. Then there would not be any rivalry or bitterness 
with between him and the Arjuna and Karna would have a equal life as his brothers and Kunti 
would have lived together with all her sons. 
Also The Mahabharata reveals the existing competition of the Queens of becoming a 
mother. Gandhari was so sad and shocked to hear that Kunti had bore a son that she almost cuts 
open her belly to give birth to her child. This action almost ruined her chance of motherhood. 
Again in Kunti‟s case she refused to give the mantra to Madri for the second time. She was 
afraid that if she does that Madri will beget more children than her therefore demean her 
position. So the choice of motherhood became a source of competition for them.