About

childfree.life is committed to providing the childfree community of the world another way to express themselves, if they so choose.

Humans are instinctually driven to procreate. We all know this and we all live through sexual experimentation and identity discovery as we mature. Society, in most parts of the world, has an expectation that children will grow to have children of their own and experience the joy of being a parent, like their parents did before them.

Some of us however can’t have children for medical reasons. Some of us can’t afford to raise a family. Some of us do not have a desire to be a parent. Some of us have been traumatised at some point in our lives and have made our choice as a result. There are all sorts of reasons why somebody comes to the realisation that kids won’t be a part of their life journey.

We are now living in an era of better acceptance. Decades of advancing humanity through cultural evolution have led our world to where it is now. In many parts of the world we now acknowledge, recognise and embrace diversity in all forms. This enables those who may previously have felt self conscious or afraid to be who they are to live more freely and express themselves.

So why is it that so many childfree people continue to experience stigma associated with their lifestyle? Like living childfree is to be an outsider? Why are some people subjected to ongoing and unwelcomed questioning and influence about their choice?

Many governments rely on immigration and population increases to determine future budgets and investments. Religious groups have been actively encouraging parishioners or congregants to have as many children as possible for hundreds of years. These fundamental drivers that have influenced culture and tradition for generations create a world that can be difficult to navigate for childfree people.

However, we are collectively expected to sympathize with the struggles and support the decisions of people who choose parenthood. Our taxes subsidise medical, childcare and education expenses. Workplaces in some countries provide maternity and parenting support leave, and people are generally very accommodating of the day to day demands of parenting that may take someone away from work or social activities. We are also expected to tolerate poor child and/or parent behaviour without speaking up or intervening.

In a world where many cultures are progressing acceptance and consideration of diversity, the childfree seem to be the last on the list to receive either.

Parenting is tough. We are all very conscious of that too. Being a single parent even more so. The financial and emotional cost of raising a child is forcing people to seek greater support from family members, social circles and welfare. Older generations who had large families of 4 or more may be struggling to give their now working adult children enough time and energy in supporting their many grandkids. Housing affordability is at an all-time low. Environmental impacts like extreme temperature fluctuations, wildfires and cyclones are reducing the liveability in various regions around the planet, forcing people to either migrate elsewhere or spend a lot of money rebuilding.

Raising children requires absolute financial and emotional care for life. If adequate commitment can’t be given then children can experience developmental traumas that can affect them later as adults and the choices they make. Pressuring someone to have kids when they are not ready or don’t desire them can lead to suffering by both the parent and child, and who benefits from that?

Childfree.life is not intended to be a platform to condemn or attack parents or children. We are all somebody’s child, and how we were raised directly influences our ability to survive as adults. We should all be grateful for the lessons that we have learned and the opportunities that have presented themselves.

Nevertheless, deciding whether or not to have kids is the last real choice that we have as individuals, and everybody should feel able and empowered to make that decision for themselves.