Voluntarily Childfree

In Voluntarily Childfree, Shelly Volsche examines why people choose to remain childfree and what it means to make a life worth living. As the first anthropological study of the childfree, this book is for readers who want to understand those who view parenthood as a choice.

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Voluntarily Childfree: Identity and Kinship in the United States discusses what it means to make a life worth living without traditional parenthood. Themes include authenticity and autonomy, partnership and support, fulfillment of the need to nurture, freedom of choice, and a desire to leave the world a better place than we found it. Despite the stigmas of selfishness and solitude, the voices in Voluntarily Childfree speak poignantly of their commitment to a different type of family that includes romantic partners, friends, pets, and future generations through mentorship and leadership opportunities. At its core, the human desire to connect and be heard remains, regardless of the decision to reproduce or not. This book is recommended for students and scholars of anthropology, sociology, cultural studies, and psychology.