Childlessness as Choice

The effort to control reproduction is as old as human history, yet it was not until the late 20th century that a sexually active heterosexual person had the ability to choose childlessness. Worldwide, the number of people who are childless by choice is on the rise. Women and men offer both similar and different reasons for their choice to remain childless. Found among people of all races and socioeconomic statuses, people who are childless by choice report that they are satisfied with their lives; nonetheless, others often attribute negative stereotypes to this group. People who are childless by choice have founded organizations to advocate for their interests and to offer opportunities for social networking. Today, both scholars and activists continue to debate ways to promote ...