The Empathy Belly
OK, I really have nothing to say about this except “Haw! Empathy Belly!” This thing is a strap-on contraption designed to allow non-pregnant people “to experience over 20 symptoms and effects of pregnancy, including: Weight gain of 30 pounds; Fetal kicking and stroking movements; Shallow breathing and shortness of breath; Increased blood pressure, pulse and body temperature; Bladder pressure and frequency of urination; Low backaches; shift in center of gravity; waddling; Fatigue, irritability, and much, much more!” Hilarious!
I ran across the Empathy Belly while reading a really interesting article about male pregnancy, which hasn’t happened yet but totally could, someday soon.
July 18th, 2007 at 12:00 am
I dunno if this has happened at all to Sam, but I developed my own empathy belly while Wendy was pregs. I think I gained like 30 pounds. Not the same thing, I know…
July 19th, 2007 at 5:22 pm
Irritatingly, Sam is, if anything, only getting skinnier.
July 20th, 2007 at 9:07 pm
It’s a cool idea, but it’s a little creepy how some of them used it to teach kids that pregnancy is “uncool”…like teenage mothers have no social stigma already. And how exactly is making them wear a fake pregnancy belly for a few minutes going to convince them that they have a future?
July 20th, 2007 at 9:30 pm
The part I thought was funny was the end, where “irritability” was one of the symptoms it simulates!
The idea that wearing the belly will prevent teen pregnancy is definitely pretty dumb.