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Being Fruitful Without Multiplying
Childfree, childless … these are the labels society gives to women who do not bear children, due to choice or genetics.
Being Fruitful without Multiplying started as one woman’s quest to come to terms with her decision not to bear children. In conversation with Renee and Janice—two close relatives from different generations—Patricia found that they shared another, unexpected each belonged to childless or childfree social networks. All three were weary of questions from well-meaning people who wondered why they had not born children. As they began to reach out to others in earnest, they found that many who belonged to their diverse online communities were eager to share their stories. Some had chosen to be childfree and some were childless because of biological factors but grew to appreciate the advantages. Some of those who chose not to reproduce still decided to become stepparents or adopt.
Over sixty women and a few men added their voices to those of the three main authors. The result is this rich and varied anthology, which includes stories from many different countries, cultures and income groups.
Being Fruitful without Multiplying started as one woman’s quest to come to terms with her decision not to bear children. In conversation with Renee and Janice—two close relatives from different generations—Patricia found that they shared another, unexpected each belonged to childless or childfree social networks. All three were weary of questions from well-meaning people who wondered why they had not born children. As they began to reach out to others in earnest, they found that many who belonged to their diverse online communities were eager to share their stories. Some had chosen to be childfree and some were childless because of biological factors but grew to appreciate the advantages. Some of those who chose not to reproduce still decided to become stepparents or adopt.
Over sixty women and a few men added their voices to those of the three main authors. The result is this rich and varied anthology, which includes stories from many different countries, cultures and income groups.
255 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
July 1, 2012
Being Fruitful Without Multiplying is a compilation of stories based on the experiences of a diverse group of women of many backgrounds and ages. The stories are personal and speak to why the decision to not bear children was made. For some it was a decision made early, while for others it was a process or a choice based on circumstance. In a child-centric world this book offers different choices made by many women. The stories are powerful testimonies to the need to remind women that they can choose a different path from the life script. The book is well written and the personal narratives are interesting. The book is an affirmation that women who choose to live a childfree life are not alone. I recommend this book for the childfree, those thinking about whether having a child is for them, and for those who enjoy reading about people and the choices that they make.
May 6, 2014
In 2014, the Independent Publisher Book Awards (IPPY) honored Being Fruitful Without Multiplying: Stories and Essays from Around the World, with a Gold Medal Award.
Being Fruitful without Multiplying is a collection of stories by the childfree and childless. This non-fiction book provides interesting discussion topics regarding Societal Pressures, Biological and Psychological Issues, Childhood Influences, and the Economic Conditions surrounding the choice to move forward in life without bearing children, due to choice or genetics. It is recommended supplemental reading material for Women's Studies or Sociology courses, as well as a case-study resource for college thesis or dissertation research.
Being Fruitful without Multiplying is a collection of stories by the childfree and childless. This non-fiction book provides interesting discussion topics regarding Societal Pressures, Biological and Psychological Issues, Childhood Influences, and the Economic Conditions surrounding the choice to move forward in life without bearing children, due to choice or genetics. It is recommended supplemental reading material for Women's Studies or Sociology courses, as well as a case-study resource for college thesis or dissertation research.
October 16, 2012
This book is broken into two parts - the first being some lengthy stories from three women on their lives and what led them to the idea of being childfree, the second a collection of stories submitted by men and women around the world on their own childfree status.
I picked this book up mainly for the collection of stories, and what I ended up finding most enjoyable about the book was the first half from the three women.
From the very beginning I was hooked on reading this. That is, until I got to the 2nd half. The collection of submissions start with adults in their 20s, and work their way up age-wise until the 50+ category. While in the beginning I found it interesting, it quickly became frustrating and disappointing. The stories were repetitive - I understand that a lot of us who do not have/want children have a lot of the same reasons, but it was tiring to read the same reasons over and over and over again.
There were also a lot of assumptions made, both by the contributors and the authors in their discussion transcript at the end of the book. Assumptions that parents are absolutely miserable, that if they could do it again they wouldn't have children, etc.
Two quotes really stood out in to me bt the end of the book:
While discussing parents who say they'd do it all over again and still have children
Unrelated to previous quote, but still a little rage-inducing to me
This is part of what bothers me overall about the Childfree community -I feel like we don't want people to judge us, or assume things about our lives and our choices, yet we do the same thing to others. It's okay to not want kids, but you don't have to be an asshole about it, make assumptions or excuses, or jokes about those who choose a different life from yours. And I feel like that's exactly why I've pulled myself out of a lot of the "childfree" communities out there - it was just far too frustrating and tiring seeing that kind of attutide so prevalent in a group that expects people to understand and respect their own choices.
I picked this book up mainly for the collection of stories, and what I ended up finding most enjoyable about the book was the first half from the three women.
From the very beginning I was hooked on reading this. That is, until I got to the 2nd half. The collection of submissions start with adults in their 20s, and work their way up age-wise until the 50+ category. While in the beginning I found it interesting, it quickly became frustrating and disappointing. The stories were repetitive - I understand that a lot of us who do not have/want children have a lot of the same reasons, but it was tiring to read the same reasons over and over and over again.
There were also a lot of assumptions made, both by the contributors and the authors in their discussion transcript at the end of the book. Assumptions that parents are absolutely miserable, that if they could do it again they wouldn't have children, etc.
Two quotes really stood out in to me bt the end of the book:
While discussing parents who say they'd do it all over again and still have children
Catherine: Yeah, but sometimes they are talking to themselves.
(laughter)
Renee: So true. They are trying to convince themselves that they made the right decision. Nobody wants to think they made the wrong decision.
Unrelated to previous quote, but still a little rage-inducing to me
Catherine: You read interviews about these authors who have children and still write from four to six a.m. every morning before the kids get up. Congratulations to those who can both have children and fulfill their dreams. I hope they have children who don't resent their parents later in life because they spent so much time on themselves.
This is part of what bothers me overall about the Childfree community -I feel like we don't want people to judge us, or assume things about our lives and our choices, yet we do the same thing to others. It's okay to not want kids, but you don't have to be an asshole about it, make assumptions or excuses, or jokes about those who choose a different life from yours. And I feel like that's exactly why I've pulled myself out of a lot of the "childfree" communities out there - it was just far too frustrating and tiring seeing that kind of attutide so prevalent in a group that expects people to understand and respect their own choices.
September 8, 2013
It’s about time I finally read this thing. After all, I’m in it. The story of my vasectomy is published on page 93 (as Jay Shannon). But despite having read my own story, I didn’t get around to reading the rest of it until my flight to Las Vegas. It’s written as a series of journal entries and short essays, so it’s the perfect book for a red eye flight when you’re both wired and exhausted.
The book explores the decision not to have children; that is, to be “childfree”. I’m amongst this group and to outsiders (which is a large majority), we’re often met with confusion, disbelief, mockery, the opinion that we’re flakes or selfish or what have you.
This is a good book for many reasons (all separate from my presence in it, wink wink). You get a number of different perspectives from all around the world in various age groups all the way up to age 61, everything from lack of parental instinct, to the changing drive of society with women in and rising in the workplace, to the reality that you can’t “have it all”, to tokophobia and “vanity” in preserving one’s body, to the devotion instead to other child-related fields, to the outright annoyance at even being around children. And with the various ages, you see that, despite popular opinion, there’s nothing backing up that claim that we’ll “change [our] mind.”
The first half of the book is the extended journals of Patricia Yvette, Renee Ann and Janice Lynne, a series of entries describing how and why they became childfree. The latter half is a collection of stories from contributors (myself included), sharing our own stories.
It’s a great book for the difference in perspectives, and if you want to know where we’re coming from, you’ll find it in here.
The book explores the decision not to have children; that is, to be “childfree”. I’m amongst this group and to outsiders (which is a large majority), we’re often met with confusion, disbelief, mockery, the opinion that we’re flakes or selfish or what have you.
This is a good book for many reasons (all separate from my presence in it, wink wink). You get a number of different perspectives from all around the world in various age groups all the way up to age 61, everything from lack of parental instinct, to the changing drive of society with women in and rising in the workplace, to the reality that you can’t “have it all”, to tokophobia and “vanity” in preserving one’s body, to the devotion instead to other child-related fields, to the outright annoyance at even being around children. And with the various ages, you see that, despite popular opinion, there’s nothing backing up that claim that we’ll “change [our] mind.”
The first half of the book is the extended journals of Patricia Yvette, Renee Ann and Janice Lynne, a series of entries describing how and why they became childfree. The latter half is a collection of stories from contributors (myself included), sharing our own stories.
It’s a great book for the difference in perspectives, and if you want to know where we’re coming from, you’ll find it in here.
August 3, 2016
Honest look at why some women choose to forgo having children. It's nice to see that there are a handful of people living this "alternative" lifestyle. However, I would have liked to hear more accounts from post-menopausal women (i.e., women who have really made the decision) to investigate whether they are still happy with their choice after the chance has passed.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews