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Some characteristics of intentionally childless wives in Britain

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 July 2008

Frances Baum  and
David R. Cope
Frances Baum
Affiliation:
Institute of Planning Studies, University of Nottingham
David R. Cope
Affiliation:
Institute of Planning Studies, University of Nottingham
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Summary

Intentional childlessness in Britain has been investigated by means of a postal questionnaire survey of married women who to date had never had a child. These wives were categorized according to their fertility intentions. As a group the wives were well-educated, likely to be employed and to be married to men in professional or managerial occupations, although there were some with husbands in manual occupations. The main reason perceived by the wives for their decision not to have children was the value they placed on the freedom they consequently gained. A majority of the wives felt there were no disadvantages in remaining childless. The remainder who felt that there were disadvantages identified these as: missing the positive features of children; possible loneliness and lack of support in old age; feelings of deviancy; and economic and social discrimination resulting from their childlessness.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Biosocial Science , Volume 12 , Issue 3 , July 1980 , pp. 287 - 300
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1980

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