We all have women relatives and friends who have chosen not to reproduce. It is a personal decision yet sometimes we form opinions as to why women have made it. (Gosh, she must have had a terrible childhood…) If we’re honest, sometimes we even toss some judgement in there. And then there are the awkward social moments: Am I talking about my kids too much here? In this episode: an enlightening conversation with two women who have made it part of their life’s mission to give people a better understanding of women who choose to be childfree and to dispel some of the myths that surround that decision. Plus, how to avoid isolating—and even possibly annoying—women who don’t have children.
Dr. Amy Blackstone is Professor of Sociology at the University of Maine. Her book Childfree by Choice (Dutton, 2019) offers a definitive investigation into the history and growing movement of adults choosing to forgo parenthood.
Meghan Daum is the author of five books, including the New York Times bestseller, Selfish, Shallow & Self-Absorbed: Sixteen Writers On The Decision Not To Have Kids. She has written for magazines including The New Yorker, The New York Times Magazine and The Atlantic. Meghan also hosts The Unspeakable Podcast.
