Childfree movement
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| − | Laws that explicitly or effectively require individuals to procreate (''e.g.'', laws permitting [[marital rape]]) are generally frowned upon as violating [[civil rights]]. Certainly many adults would be found in violation of such laws, whether they be perpetual | + | Laws that explicitly or effectively require individuals to procreate (''e.g.'', laws permitting [[marital rape]]) are generally frowned upon as violating [[civil rights]]. Certainly many adults would be found in violation of such laws, whether they be perpetual [[virgin]]s, [[confirmed bachelor]]s, [[homosexual]]s, developmentally-disabled (where an individual wouldn't be physically or mentally capable to take care of a child) or, more commonly, infertile. |
There are, however, a number of similar laws, such as those that force sterilization upon their perpetrators (such as rapists) as either a penalty for a crime or a condition of release, or [[China]]'s limitation of families to one child. | There are, however, a number of similar laws, such as those that force sterilization upon their perpetrators (such as rapists) as either a penalty for a crime or a condition of release, or [[China]]'s limitation of families to one child. | ||
Revision as of 19:48, 21 January 2013
The childfree movement is a grassroots social movement advocating childlessness by choice. People who chose to be childless by choice are known as childfree. The movement was started during the 1970s. Two of the most notable childfree organizations that were established during the 1970s were the National Organization for Non-Parents and No Kidding! The childfree movement is becoming increasingly popular.[1]
Contents |
Reasons to be childfree
The international childfree movement does not share any unified political view, but many political ideologies associated with childfree interests are increasingly becoming associated with the movement. The arguments for childfreeism are classified into the following categories:
Arguments from parents' point of view
- People have the right not to have children.
- A child may violate a couple's right to privacy, perhaps by popping in on them when they are inconveniently busy making him a sibling.
- Pregnancy and childbirth disrupt a woman's career. Many feminists support birth control partially for this reason.
- When children grow up, they may become a disappointment to their parents.
- The State and/or "society" have no right to impose parenthood and child-bearing on people.
Arguments that a child may be harmed merely by its own birth
- If a parent is financially unstable or low-income, this may cause misery for the child. Since the child has nothing to do with the financial breakdown of the couple, it is unethical to give birth to a child only to cause it misery.
- A slightly more broad version of the above argument goes that to live is, by definition, to suffer, and so to have children is merely to perpetuate suffering.
- If a parent has a genetic disorder, the child may inherit it.
Philosophical arguments
- People have a responsibility toward the environment. Thus to prevent overpopulation and other environmental problems, they should choose not to have children.
- Antinatalism is a philosophy which holds that giving birth to a child is a negative value, thus it is immoral to have a child.
"Selfish" arguments
It is fairly probable that at least some of the childfree individuals who utilize one of the arguments listed above also believe one or more of the following pro-childfree arguments:
- A baby makes it's caregivers sleep-deprived.
- A baby makes its parents into horrible-looking frumpy people.
- A baby consumes money and produces nothing, thus lowering standard of living.
- They smell.
- Lack of a maternal/paternal instinct.
- "I don't like children."
Also
Laws that explicitly or effectively require individuals to procreate (e.g., laws permitting marital rape) are generally frowned upon as violating civil rights. Certainly many adults would be found in violation of such laws, whether they be perpetual virgins, confirmed bachelors, homosexuals, developmentally-disabled (where an individual wouldn't be physically or mentally capable to take care of a child) or, more commonly, infertile.
There are, however, a number of similar laws, such as those that force sterilization upon their perpetrators (such as rapists) as either a penalty for a crime or a condition of release, or China's limitation of families to one child.
Organizations
There are several childfree organizations throughout the world. No Kidding! is a prominent international organization, active in New Zealand, Canada, and the United States. Its membership grew after it launched a website in the 1990s.[1]