Choice and circumstance: Qualitative insights into contemporary childlessness in Australia

Gordon A. Carmichael () and Andrea Whittaker ()
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Gordon A. Carmichael: Australian National University
Andrea Whittaker: University of Melbourne

European Journal of Population, 2007, vol. 23, issue 2, No 1, 143 pages

Abstract: Abstract Using data from in-depth interviews with 115 women, men and couples in eastern Australia for whom family formation was a recent, current or imminent future issue, this article explores contemporary childlessness among those physically able to have children. It differentiates between those childless by choice and by circumstance, and among other themes highlights (i) the role preservation of lifestyle appears to play as a motive for deliberate childlessness following development of a life course through early adulthood that both generates lifestyle aspirations and often places parenthood on the backburner until after age 30, and (ii) the roles difficulty forming suitable relationships, women’s desire for meaningful careers, and male involvement in family formation decisions play in bringing about childlessness by circumstance.

Keywords: Chosen childlessness; Circumstantial childlessness; Lifestyle opportunity costs; Career women; Early adult life course; Infécondité volontaire; Infécondité circonstancielle; Mode de vie coûts d’opportunité; Carrières féminines; Début de l’âge adulte (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2007
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (10)

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DOI: 10.1007/s10680-006-9112-4

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