How to be childless : a history and philosophy of life without children

Childless uncovers the voices and experiences of childless women from the past 500 years and puts them in conversation with research from a broad range of disciplines, from psychology to philosophy to sociology. It addresses two main questions: What are the pathways to childlessness, and how do childless individuals flourish? Eschewing two dominant narratives—that the childless are either barren and alone or that they are carefree and selfish—it views childless individuals as complicated human beings with nuanced life stories. The pathways to childlessness, so often labeled simply “choice” and “circumstance,” are far more complex and interweaving. __Childless__ examines issues including regret, old age, attitudes toward childlessness, the household, and legacy. Every year, over 80,000 American women with an advanced degree reach age 45 without having given birth. Thousands more debate whether or not to have children. The childless might think that they’re living in a unique situation with little to guide them. But, in reality, they can turn to the vast human experience with childlessness for inspiration, warnings, and guidance. "Childless uncovers the voices and experiences of childless women from the past 500 years and puts them in conversation with research from a broad range of disciplines, from psychology to philosophy to sociology. It addresses two main questions: What are the pathways to childlessness, and how do childless individuals flourish? Eschewing two dominant narratives--that the childless are either barren and alone or that they are carefree and selfish--it views childless individuals as complicated human beings with nuanced life stories. The pathways to childlessness, so often labeled simply "choice" and "circumstance," are far more complex and interweaving. Childless examines issues including regret, old age, attitudes toward childlessness, the household, and legacy. Every year, over 80,000 American women with an advanced degree reach age 45 without having given birth. Thousands more debate whether or not to have children. The childless might think that they're living in a unique situation with little to guide them. But, in reality, they can turn to the vast human experience with childlessness for inspiration, warnings, and guidance" -- University Press Scholarship Online In How to Be Childless: A History and Philosophy of Life Without Children, Rachel Chrastil explores the long and fascinating history of childlessness, putting this often-overlooked legacy in conversation with the issues that childless women and men face in the twenty-first century. Eschewing two dominant narratives, that the childless are either barren and alone, or that they are carefree and selfish, How to Be Childless instead argues that the lives of childless individuals from the past can help all of us expand our range of possibilities for the good life.In uncovering the voices and experiences of childless women from the past five hundred years, Chrastil demonstrates that the pathways to childlessness, so often simplified as "choice" and "circumstance," are far more complex and interweaving. Balanced, deeply researched, and richly realized, How to be Childless will empower readers, parents and childless alike, to navigate their lives with purpose. In How to Be Childless: A History and Philosophy of Life Without Children , Rachel Chrastil explores the long and fascinating history of childlessness, putting this often-overlooked legacy in conversation with the issues that childless women and men face in the twenty-first century. Eschewing two dominant narratives, that the childless are either barren and alone, or that they are carefree and selfish, How to Be Childless instead argues that the lives of childless individuals from the past can help all of us expand our range of possibilities for the good life. In uncovering the voices and experiences of childless women from the past five hundred years, Chrastil demonstrates that the pathways to childlessness, so often simplified as choice and circumstance, are far more complex and interweaving. Balanced, deeply researched, and richly realized, How to be Childless will empower readers, parents and childless alike, to navigate their lives with purpose. In How to Be Childless: A History and Philosophy of Life Without Children, Rachel Chrastil explores the long and fascinating history of childlessness, putting this often-overlooked legacy in conversation with the issues that childless women and men face in the twenty-first century. Eschewing two dominant narratives, that the childless are either barren and alone, or that they are carefree and selfish, How to Be Childless instead argues that the0lives of childless individuals from the past can help all of us expand our range of possibilities for the good life. 0In uncovering the voices and experiences of childless women from the past five hundred years, Chrastil demonstrates that the pathways to childlessness, so often simplified as "choice" and "circumstance," are far more complex and interweaving. Balanced, deeply researched, and richly realized, How to be Childless will empower readers, parents, and childless alike, to navigate their lives with purpose "In How to Be Childless: A History and Philosophy of Life Without Children, Rachel Chrastil explores the long and fascinating history of childlessness, putting this often-overlooked legacy in conversation with the issues that childless women and men face in the twenty-first century. Eschewing two dominant narratives, that the childless are either barren and alone, or that they are carefree and selfish, How to Be Childless instead argues that the lives of childless individuals from the past can help all of us expand our range of possibilities for the good life. In uncovering the voices and experiences of childless women from the past five hundred years, Chrastil demonstrates that the pathways to childlessness, so often simplified as 'choice' and 'circumstance', are far more complex and interweaving."--Book jacket 'How to be Childless' uncovers the voices and experiences of childless women from the past 500 years and puts them in conversation with research from a broad range of disciplines, from psychology to philosophy to sociology. It addresses two main questions: What are the pathways to childlessness, and how do childless individuals flourish? Eschewing two dominant narratives - that the childless are either barren and alone or that they are carefree and selfish - it views childless individuals as complicated human beings with nuanced life stories. The pathways to childlessness, so often labeled simply "choice" and "circumstance," are far more complex and interweaving. This work examines issues including regret, old age, attitudes toward childlessness, the household, and legacy Cover 1 Half title 2 How to Be Childless 4 Copyright 5 Dedication 6 Contents 8 Acknowledgments 10 Introduction: How to Talk about Childlessness 12 1. Delay 30 2. Whispers 48 3. Interlude: The Baby Boom 68 4. Shouts 72 5. Flourishing 92 6. Regret 108 7. Home and Hearth 126 8. A Better World 146 9. Old and Alone 162 10. Legacy 180 Notes 202 Index 236