In my 2017 childfree trending piece, I discuss how in recent years we’ve been seeing more talk about pronatalism. Some articles use the word directly, some not. An excellent feature article that appeared on money.good.is magazine last fall by Mike Mariani gives us a great example of the latter. Continue reading “On the Myth of Maternal Instinct”
Tag: social issues
Q&A With Research Scholar, Amrita Nandy on her Book, Motherhood and Choice
I recently had the pleasure of interviewing New Delhi research scholar and activist, Amrita Nandy, about her new book, Motherhood and Choice: Uncommon Mothers, Childfree Women. Check it out: Continue reading “Q&A With Research Scholar, Amrita Nandy on her Book, Motherhood and Choice”
Not Having Kids: From Moral Outrage toward Moral Duty
One particular phrase relating to a study that came out last spring continues to pop up online: moral outrage. The study, “Parenthood as a Moral Imperative? Moral Outrage and the Stigmatization of Voluntarily Childfree Women and Men” has a finding that not having children by choice “inspires moral outrage in others.” While the study’s author Leslie Ashburn-Nardo acknowledges “mean levels of moral outrage were small overall” and it can be argued that the media have overblown this finding, it’s worth asking why people can feel morally outraged by the childfree. Here are two big reasons why. Continue reading “Not Having Kids: From Moral Outrage toward Moral Duty”
Attitudes About Not Having Children: A Recent YouGov Poll
On the heels of Serena William’s comment that when she gives birth, she will “be a real woman now,” YouGov, a non-partisan public opinion poll organization, conducted a poll with some interesting results that relate to the childfree, and others who decide not to have children. When I read the poll summary in YouGov’s piece titled, “Most Americans believe that motherhood does not define a woman,” I definitely wanted to know more. Continue reading “Attitudes About Not Having Children: A Recent YouGov Poll”
One of the Many Negative Effects of Pronatalism & One Woman’s Solution
Have you heard of the non-profit organization, Project Prevention? Led by founder Barbara Harris, Project Prevention helps addicts and alcoholics get on long term or permanent birth control. Why? So they don’t conceive children. Continue reading “One of the Many Negative Effects of Pronatalism & One Woman’s Solution”
Signs of Global Cracks in Pronatalism
While pronatalism remains a powerful social and cultural force around the world, we are seeing signs of global cracks in the armor. Take India and Africa. Continue reading “Signs of Global Cracks in Pronatalism”
Why I Went to the Women’s March on Washington
I went to the Women’s March in DC last weekend! As I am sure you have read, the March made history! Why did I go? Continue reading “Why I Went to the Women’s March on Washington”
The Childfree, Cultural Identity and Intracultural Diversity
A Guest Post by Kimya Dennis, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Salem College
A recent “What Would a Feminist Do?” podcast featured Meghan Daum and Danielle Henderson. They shared their perspectives, experiences and writings regarding the childfree—people who choose not to have biological and adopted children. I found the podcast interesting and greatly appreciated it. It is common for people to say choosing not to have children is an irrelevant topic, that it is no one’s business and, therefore, it is silly to have research, internet-based articles and overall discourse on being childfree. Continue reading “The Childfree, Cultural Identity and Intracultural Diversity”
Expanding Public Libraries’ Marketing Reach to Adults Without Children
I was recently contacted by Tatiana Weinstein, Assistant Director/Director of Adult Services in the Lisle, IL Library District, about an August feature article she published in the national magazine, Public Libraries Online. She speaks to her colleagues on an excellent topic: the need to widen libraries’ marketing reach to adults without children. With her permission, I have cross posted it here: Continue reading “Expanding Public Libraries’ Marketing Reach to Adults Without Children”
Scholars Talk Pronatalism and Population Engineering
Michael Cook has an interesting article on bioedge.org: “Let’s fight climate change with population engineering.” Yes – “population“engineering.” What is it? Check it out. Continue reading “Scholars Talk Pronatalism and Population Engineering”
