To Be or Not to Be: Chinese-Singaporean Women Deliberating on Voluntary Childlessness

Li, Amanda Ee Hui; Plüss, Caroline; Kwok-bun, Chan

doi:10.1007/978-1-4614-0266-4_13

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

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“…As Leung (2018) observes, ''childlessness was considered as jue hou (prohibiting posterity) in the traditional Chinese culture which was regarded as a taboo.'' Across the region, few studies have been performed on the topic of ''voluntary childlessness'' (see Li et al, 2013 for an important exception). Despite the remarkably high numbers of individuals without children (at all ages) in Hong Kong, studies of the topic in the city are surprisingly scarce, with a general focus on the economic consequences (Lui, 2013), or the impact of being without children in later life (Cheng et al, 2014).…”

Section: Childlessness In Hong Kongmentioning

confidence: 99%

Self-Definition and Evaluation of the Term “Childfree” Among Hong Kong Women

Gietel-Basten,

Yeung

2023

Sage Open

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The term “childless” is highly problematic. Attempts to split it into “voluntary” and “involuntary” may appear to give more detail on context, but the differentiation can be misleading. The condition of “-less” has negative connotations and implies “missing” something; possibly something which is “natural.” The term “childfree” has been employed as an alternative expression which denotes active choice, freedom, and emancipation. Few studies, however, have explored how individuals refer to themselves, or how they interpret—or even care—about these distinctions. Such existing studies only explore the use of these English expressions among speakers of English as their primary language. This exploratory qualitative study explores how women without children define themselves in their native language in an Asian setting—Cantonese in Hong Kong. It also explores how such women interpret the various terms developed in English to describe their circumstances. Respondents refer to themselves in neutral, factual terms—literally “without children.” Others make an explicit link between being unmarried and childless status. While respondents find the English expression of “childfree” positive, they do not express a strong need to either deploy it in English, nor “develop” a Cantonese equivalent. The study provides further evidence that “labels” generated and applied by academics in one context and in one language may not be universally applicable.

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