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Childfree

Table of contents

1 Etymology and usage 2 Reasons cited 3 Controversy 4 Books 5 External links

Etymology and usage

The term stands in contrast to "childless", which some argue implies that children are "lacking" and desired; childfree persons would argue that their lives can be complete without offspring.

The history of the word is somewhat unclear; it may have been coined in the 1970s by the National Organization for Non-Parents (now defunct).

Childfree is sometimes capitalized in regular usage, e.g. "He describes himself as Childfree."

While gay men and lesbians can be childfree, they rarely adopt the label; the vast majority of those who do are straight (or, potentially, bisexual).

Reasons cited

Childfree persons cite a variety of reasons for their position. Among them:

• Concern regarding environmental factors and/or overpopulation.
• Desire for increased free time.
• Desire for decreased financial responsibility.
• Perceived incapacity to be a responsible parent.
• Fear that parenthood, being an irrevocable state, will be disliked.
• Lack of biological urges to procreate.

Childfree individuals are sometimes derided by others as being "selfish for never wanting children, for not contributing to their nation's future, etc. Childfree persons counter that those who desire children are at least as selfish in their reasons for wanting children, that some reasons cited for being childfree are selfless, and that there will always be enough children born to guarantee any nation's future.

Books

The Baby Boon (ISBN 0743242645) is a book by Elinor Burkett, published in 2000, which outlines a case against many privileges granted to parents (as opposed to non-parents) at various levels of society.

External links

• the childfree-by-choice pages
• No Kidding! - A social club for those without children.
• The Voluntary Human Extinction Movement
• BRATS! - A page of rants by childfree persons about parents and/or children; may contain harsh language and/or extremely negative viewpoints.