Childfreeness, parenthood and adulthood

Abstract

This article discusses voluntary childlessness and reaching adulthood in Sweden, focusing on childfree women and men with intellectual disabilities (IDs). The article is based on interviews with 19 childfree individuals, four of whom had IDs. It focuses on motives for voluntary childlessness, with three types of motives being mentioned only by the interviewees with IDs; namely the difficulties of parenthood and of building relations with children, the risk of heredity and the maliciousness of children. The interviews have been analysed with relevance to power axes of gender, age and abilities, and these three motives may be seen as results of the interviewees' ascribed position as intellectually disabled and of the segregation in society between able and disabled individuals. The article also includes a discussion about how to achieve 'adult status' when parenthood is ruled out. Other issues in everyday life seem more important than parenthood, according to the individuals with IDs.

Fifty shades of freedom. Voluntary childlessness as women's ultimate liberation

“…In order to continue to investigate these discourses, future studies should be mindful to adopt an intersectional perspective that further can draw attention to, and explain, these differences between women (cf. Engwall, 2014;Ludvig, 2006). Drawing on a small qualitative study the results are of exploratory character and the aim of the article is not to provide new theory or to attempt to produce generalized knowledge about the experiences of voluntary childless women.…”

“…More research is needed to identify how differences between industrialized and other societies as well as within industrialized ones influence the social reasons for decisions to remain voluntary childless (cf. Engwall, 2014).…”

Assumptions As A Basis For Attitude Forming To Mother's Position In Girls

“…The results of sociological surveys testify to the rejection of a parental role because a person is unwilling to limit one's personal freedom, abandon the existing way of life or to compromise a successful career (Rusanova, 2008;Engwall et al, 2010;Engwall, 2013). The results of the studies make us admit the fact that the attitude of modern young people to family values has changed dramatically.…”

A Phenomenological Study on Voluntarily Childless Women

“…There are studies supporting these findings in the literature. For instance in the research conducted by Engwall (2014), the difficulty of parenting and establishing a healthy relationship with the child, the responsibility of child care, the burden of child care falling on the mother, the risk of inheritance of genetic disorders and the anxiety of taking a step into not only being a parent but also adulthood are the main reasons for voluntary childlessness. In the research carried out by Rosemary (1991), the researcher identifies several reasons for being voluntarily childless, namely, personal freedom, freedom of travelling, and spending time for oneself.…”