The Stream

Childfree by choice

What does nuclear family look like without the kids? The Stream speaks to people who are forgoing parenthood.

Some say they’re just not cut out for parenthood, others say the reasons are financial, for all the decision is personal. Whatever the motivation, a growing number of people around the world are choosing to remain child free, redefining family and life’s traditional milestones.

In the United States one in five women aged 40-44 does not have children. Thirty percent of German women say they do not intend to have children, and 48 percent of German middle-aged men now contend that they could have a happy life without children. In Japan over the next three decades it’s projected that more than one in three women will never have children. In urban India, where family and motherhood are highly valued, studies show a growing number of women are choosing not to bear children.

What do you think of this lifestyle choice? We’ll speak to people from around the world about the reasons they’ve opted not to have children. Join the conversation at 19:30 GMT.

On this episode of The Stream, we speak with: 

Lisa Taylor @listay1
Childfree advocate
lisaslifefromwellington.blogspot.co.nz

Laura Scott @CbyCproject
Author, “Two is Enough: A Couple’s Guide to Living Childless by Choice”
childlessbychoiceproject.com

Indrani and Shounak Kar
Childfree couple
facebook.com/write2indrani 

Harry Siegel @harrysiegel
Editor, New York Daily News

What do you think? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.