"There’s a lot of pressure on women" - Charli XCX says she is conflicted about having kids

English singer and songwriter Charli XCX recently expressed her thoughts on having children and whether it is something she sees in her future.

On Thursday, May 16, 2024, the 31-year-old appeared in a cover story interview with Rolling Stone UK. Charli said that because of societal implications, she will perhaps choose to remain child-free. She added:

"Am I less of a woman if I don’t have a kid? Will I feel like I’ve missed out on my purpose in life? I know we’re not supposed to say that, but it’s this biological and social programming. There’s a lot of pressure on women to not talk about that stuff super openly, especially not in pop music or in music generally; we’re supposed to be s*xy and free and fun and wild."

Charli's penultimate track I think about it all the time from her upcoming album Brat, highlights her conflicted feelings about motherhood.

She had announced her engagement to George Daniel of the band The 1975 last November.

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Charli XCX says she thinks about having children but still feels 'like a kid' herself

Charlotte Emma Aitchison, known professionally as Charli XCX, began her career by releasing various songs on MySpace in 2008. She released her debut album True Romance in 2013, and rose to fame the same year with her hit single I Love It, featuring Icona Pop.

Charli XCX was on the cover of Rolling Stone UK on Thursday. The interview covered talks of her sixth album Brat and her opinion about children. She began by talking about her friend and songwriting collaborator Noonie Bao becoming a parent. She said:

"It was crazy seeing her standing in the same clothes she’s always worn, but now she has this completely different perspective on life than I do. She’s not enforcing that on me; it’s just a fact. She’s not alive for the same reasons that I am now."

Charli XCX and producer George Daniel got engaged in November 2023. The couple had first met in 2021, while collaborating on her hit song, Spinning. The alt-pop star explained in the interview that she did not "want to conform to centuries of indoctrination." However, the singer also considered the possibility and shared she would have to plan it out. She said:

"My circumstance involves me making a decision and being like, ‘I’m gonna come off my birth control. I’m not gonna tour. I’m going to see what George wants to do, and then we’re gonna try for a baby. I feel like a kid; I don’t feel like I can make that decision."

Charli said she knew she would "have to make the decision," at some point in her life, "because we have a clock."

The singer initially hinted at her engagement by sharing a post of her ring on her private Instagram account. She then made a post on November 28, 2024, officially revealing the news with photos of the couple on her public account. The post has since been deleted.

The first picture showed Charli in a casual selfie as she flashed a diamond ring on her hand. The official announcements on social media had the caption:

"charli xcx and george daniel f*cking for life!!!"

The post consisted of a carousel of her and her fiancé, 34, hugging each other. The photo showcased how Daniel proposed as there was a tray of tea with a box and an engagement ring.

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The pop star's new album Brat is scheduled to release on June 7, 2024, alongside the record's 15-song tracklist.