Depiction of Childlessness in Lithuanian Mass Media from 2011–2016: A Catalyst of Modernization

Abstract

Demographic research shows the increase of childlessness rates among women born in 1970 in comparison to those born in 1953 in Lithuania, but cultural aspects influencing reproductive behavior are under-explored. To our knowledge, the representation of childlessness in the Lithuanian mass media has not been studied yet. The aim of this article is to analyze how childlessness is depicted in the most popular mass media from 2011-2016. Our research revealed that the discourse of childlessness is undeveloped, and the depiction of voluntary childlessness is dominating. It is portrayed favorably as a modern behavior, space for which consolidation is created challenging traditional social norms. Thus Lithuanian media appear as a part of global media that promotes imitative trends of social change.