Becoming voluntarily childless: An exploratory study in a Scottish city

Abstract

This paper looks at motives that inform the decision to remain voluntarily childless. It is assumed that voluntary childlessness is not a pathological condition nor is it determined by specific social situations. Situations provide the context within which motives emerge, in the case of voluntary childlessness providing individuals or couples with the opportunity to consider unconventional interpretations of family life that may eventually lead to its rejection. Individuals who become childless prior to finding a “partner” tend to come from families which deviated from the nuclear ideal and to reject parenthood. Those whose decision emerges after a “partnership” has been formed tend to have created alternative life styles and wish to protect the advantages of living without children. It is tentatively concluded that the proportion of couples remaining childless will increase.