Serena Williams' 'real woman' quote draws backlash

NEW YORK (FOX 5 NEWS) - Tennis star and mom-to-be Serena Williams is getting called out for an interview she gave to an Australian magazine. What she said linking motherhood and womanhood sparked a wave of criticism on social media.

Her interview in Stellar is ticking off some women and men while others are scratching their heads. Williams is expecting her first baby. She said she is about to become a "real woman" now that she is going to be a mom.

Backlash toward Williams appeared on social media. For example, one person Tweeted "Many #realwoman choose to be #childfree, others can't conceive - that doesn't make us any less of a woman #getoveryourself."

Another tweet stated: "Really unfortunate statement from her. All women are real, not just the ones who give birth."

Dr. Cooper Lawrence, a psychologist, hosts a radio show on 106.1 BLI. She said this is an example of celebrities being out of touch with regular people.

"They live in this insular world where they talk to each other in a way that real people don't talk to each other," Lawrence said." No woman would actually say something like that. It's a bizarre comment."

Lawrence said women and men need to be more sensitive when talking about children. Some cannot conceive and others choose not to have children and that should not be judged, she said.

"I don't think she meant to be offensive," Lawrence said. "I think that because she is in a world that is so male-dominated, just recently there was some negative comments made about female athletes as if they have no merit in that industry."

Some experts say this can be a teaching moment: being a real woman means being who you really are and that has nothing to do with whether or not you have a baby.