Alexei HayGabrielle Union seems to have it all.
She's gorgeous, talented and married to quite the NBA star. Unfortunately, the Being Mary Jane actress, 42, is feeling a lot of societal pressure to become a mom sooner rather than later. In the October issue of Redbook, Union, talks about her fertility struggles with IVF and the "pressure" she feels to start a family overnight.
"So far, it has not happened for us. A lot of my friends deal with this," she says. "There's a certain amount of shame that is placed on women who have perhaps chosen a career over starting a family younger. The penance for being a career woman is barrenness. You feel like you're wearing a scarlet letter."
Union's husband, 33-year-old Dwyane Wade, has three children separate from his relationship with the Bring It On actress, but she says she's not in a rush to start her own family with her athletic husband. She feels being a mom in the working world still has its pitfalls, despite the many advances that have been made.
"The reality is that women are discriminated against in the workplace for being mothers," she says. "As much as there are strides being made—you get pregnant, your career takes a hit. You can't have a bad day. Don't you dare cry at work. Don't raise your voice. Especially if you're a black woman in corporate America – now you're 'the angry black woman.'"
Another idea that people take issue with sometimes, Union says, is the age gap between her and Wade. But she couldn't care less.
"I realized his friends, his teammates, were conceived when I was, like, a senior in high school," she explains. "I was in high school at the same time as their parents! Sometimes he'll be like, 'Oh, my God, he's so old!' about someone who's 35. But, Dwyane's an old 33, and I'm a young 42, so it balances out."
This couple, who got married last year, seems to know just what works for them, even if other people don't agree with it. Union opened up to E! News at Wes Gordon's New York Fashion Week show and gushed about her husband and his surprise plans for their one-year anniversary. The Miami Heat player planned a luxurious vacation to Bora Bora, but watch the video above to find out how Union plans to one-up him!