The Childless Revolution - Hardcover

Cain, Madelyn

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0738204609 ISBN 13: 9780738204604

Publisher: Da Capo Press, 2001

Synopsis

Due in part to birth control, later marriages, and the emergence of two-career couples, 42 percent of the American female population is childless, representing the fastest-growing demographic group to emerge in decades. These women are reshaping the definition of womanhood in a fundamental way, yet they are largely misunderstood. Whether childless by choice or by chance, they are alternately pitied and scorned, and are rarely asked directly about their childlessness; like the elephant in the living room, childlessness is a taboo subject.Asking the hard questions, Madelyn Cain uncovers the many reasons for childlessness-some biological, some economic and even political-and explores the ramifications, for both the individual and society. Simultaneously compassionate and journalistically curious, The Childless Revolution is informed by the stories of over 100 childless women, at long last giving voice to their experience and validating the jumble of emotions women feel about being a part of this controversial population. This is the first book to put a face on those women who cannot conceive-or, for reasons as varied as womanhood itself, have chosen not to.

About this title

About the Author

A professional actress and the author of First Time Mothers, Last Chance Babies, Madelyn Cain lives in Los Angeles.

Reviews

Childless women power many industries, in which they are often expected to cover for working moms and judged for not having children. A professional actress, Cain (First Time Mothers, Last Chance Babies: Parenting at 35+) divides childless women into three subsets: those who don't have children by choice, by chance, and by happenstance. Childless-by-choice (aka, "childfree") women literally choose not to have children, either because they flat-out dislike them or because of idealistic religious or environmental reasons. Women who are childless by chance always wanted to have children but were prevented by infertility issues. Cain's childless-by-happenstance category is a catchall of women whose other life choices ended up stopping them from having children; some didn't have children because of their spouses' attitudes, some because they had no spouse at all, and some because they waited too long and their biological clocks stopped ticking. Citing a 1993 American Demographics article that claims there will be a 44 percent increase in the number of childless couples by 2010, Cain asserts that despite that projected increase, society will still harshly criticize women without children as complete aberrations. This is a bland read, but many women may take comfort in its findings. Appropriate for all public libraries; women's studies bibliographers may also be interested. Pam Matthews, Musselman Lib., Gettysburg Coll., PA
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Da Capo Press
• Publication date: 2001
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0738204609
• ISBN 13: 9780738204604
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 208