[Voluntarily childless women--wherein lies the problem?].

BACKGROUND

Most present-day Norwegian women choose to have children. This article explores the experience of the small group of voluntarily childless, or child-free, women.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

This study is substantially based upon a small number of indepth interviews conducted in 1999 and 2000. The findings are not statistically significant; the objective is to highlight some themes and demonstrate different ways of experiencing and explaining a life without children. All respondents either lived or had lived in heterosexual relationships; at the time of the interviews their marital status were single, divorced, remarried, or living with a partner without being married. All were well-educated city-dwellers.

RESULTS

According to their own accounts, the women lived happily without children, though problems arose in their meeting with others (family, friends, colleagues) who did not accept their choice of life-style.

INTERPRETATION: Modern reproductive medicine has improved the predicament of women who want children but need assistance in order to give birth. On the other hand, women who do not want children find that their choice is criticised and that people around them fail to take it seriously.