Choice and circumstance: Qualitative insights into contemporary childlessness in Australia

Abstract

Using data from in-depth interviews with 115 women, men and couples in eastern Australia for whom family formation was a recent, current or imminent future issue, this article explores contemporary childlessness among those physically able to have children. It differentiates between those childless by choice and by circumstance, and among other themes highlights (i) the role preservation of lifestyle appears to play as a motive for deliberate childlessness following development of a life course through early adulthood that both generates lifestyle aspirations and often places parenthood on the backburner until after age 30, and (ii) the roles difficulty forming suitable relationships, women's desire for meaningful careers, and male involvement in family formation decisions play in bringing about childlessness by circumstance.Keywords Chosen childlessness AE Circumstantial childlessness AE Lifestyle opportunity costs AE Career women AE Early adult life course Re´sume´Sur la base d'entretiens approfondis mené s dans l'est de l'Australie auprè s de 115 femmes, hommes et couples pour lesquels la formation d'une famille é tait ré cente, en cours ou imminente, cet article explore l'infé condité volontaire contemporaine. La diffé rence est faite selon que l'infé condité est une affaire de choix ou de circonstances, et parmi les thè mes abordé s figurent (i) le rô le que joue le dé sir de pré server un certain mode de vie comme facteur d'explication de l'infé condité par choix, quand le cours de la vie au dé but de

Childlessness in the UK

“…The terms "childless by circumstance" or "social infertility" (which describe those who do not have a suitable partner, or who have a partner who does not want children) are used both in academic research (e.g., Carmichael and Whittaker 2007) and more generally (e.g., Black and Scull 2005;Day 2013). Indeed, while one member of a couple may be infertile or choose not to have children, for the other member this inability or unwillingness to have children may represent a circumstance which he or she has not chosen (Carmichael and Whittaker 2007). Several authors have suggested that there is a continuum of childlessness (Letherby 2002;McAllister and Clarke 2000).…”

“…Qualitative research has suggested that such women often feel they do not have an affinity for babies or young children. There is less support for the idea that these women are making their decision to remain childless to protect a high-powered career (McAllister and Clarke 2000;Carmichael and Whittaker 2007). At the other extreme are women who are childless due to a medical condition.…”

“…At the other extreme are women who are childless due to a medical condition. In between is a group of women who intended to have children, but who ended up with no children because of their circumstances (McAllister and Clarke 2000;Carmichael and Whittaker 2007;Keizer et al 2008). There is also a category of women who never made a conscious decision about whether to have children.…”

Concerns about One’s Own Future or Securing Child’s Future: Paradox of Childbearing Decision Making

“…On the other hand, the women who feel very happy with their husband may fear about the negative effect of childbearing on their relationships. Some studies show the negative effect of childbearing on marital relationship quality [50]. Based on Friedman's, value of children, reinforcing family strength and reducing doubts are important factors influencing fertility decision making [51].…”

La no maternidad en México. El rol del género y la desigualdad socioeconómica

“…Muestran que la nomaternidad refleja una variedad de tendencias sociales en las que influyen: el acceso a la anticoncepción y al aborto, el incremento en los niveles de escolaridad y una mayor participación y oportunidad en el ámbito laboral (Blackstone, 2014;Gobbi, 2013;Keizer, Dykstra y Jansen, 2008;Carmichael y Whittaker, 2007;Koropeckyj-Cox y Pendell, 2007). Siendo el aspecto generacional un elemento importante, en tanto que, a pesar de la heterogeneidad de circunstancias y percepciones, los estudios señalan que las mujeres más jóvenes son quienes tienen mayores posibilidades de permanecer sin hijos a lo largo de su vida (Kelly, 2009;Gillespie, 2003).…”