I don’t need marriage or children — Tracee Ellis Ross

Tracee Ellis Ross says she’s unbothered by the societal pressures surrounding marriage and having children.

The Blackish star says she’s perfectly content being single and childless at 48. In an interview with Marie Claire, Ross was asked if she once dreamed of having a large family; to which she replied, “Well, how could you not? Our society spoon-feeds it to you”.

“I used to put myself to sleep dreaming of my wedding,” the Girlfriends actress continued. “And I would still love all of that, but what am I going to do, just sit around waiting? Shut up. I’ve got so many things to do.”

Tracee Ellis Ross, who plays a wife and mother of 4 on Blackish, proceeded to say that marriage and children were not the only ways to find happiness in life. “There are so many ways to curate happiness, find love and create a family, and we don’t talk about them,” she said. “It creates so much shame and judgment.”

Ross then said that just because she isn’t pursuing marriage doesn’t mean she doesn’t want love. “People misinterpret being happily single as not wanting to be in a relationship. Of course I want to be in a relationship.”

“But what am I going to do? Spend all the time that I’m not [in one] moping around?” Ross argued. “No. I’m going to live my life to the fullest and I’m going to be happy right here, where I am.”