Barnfrihet – utmanande av det normativa föräldraskapet : En litteraturstudie om frivillig barnlöshet bland kvinnor, stigma och kön

Sammanfattning: Western society is characterized by pronatalist norms, which means an expectation that all people want and should have children. However, children are not a matter of course for all people, and many choose to live a life without children. This literature review examines how voluntary childless or childfree women's decisions not to have children challenge the norm of family building. The aim is to provide a synthesis of the available research on how childfree women are treated by their surroundings and the possible reasoning behind the choice to be childfree. Central questions are the reasons behind the choice to be childfree and society`s approach to childfree women and how the women cope with the response. The theoretical framework used in the analysis of the material is: stigma, doing gender and heteronormativity, and society's life script. The material for this literature review was collected using a semi-systematic approach. The results show that recurring reasons cited for a childfree life are: the desire for freedom and independence, lack of maternal instinct, and postponement of parenthood. Childfree women are perceived to deviate from a normative female role, and an expected life script and can thus be attributed stigmatizing characteristics such as selfishness and egotistical. This may lead women to develop strategies to avoid the stigma. In conclusion, the study shows that choosing a childfree lifestyle is problematic in a society where norms about family formation is deeply rooted.