I was so pleased to read this article by Anne Kingston in Maclean’s.
Anne contacted me last week to say she was writing an article about stereotypes surrounding single women without children, but after interviewing some of the women featured in her article, she decided to reframe the piece. What resulted is a powerful conversation about how women without children are no longer accepting being a silent minority.
Some of my favorite women are featured in this piece and what struck me most is the calmness and intelligence with which they speak. These are certainly not women being brushed into a corner and pitied.
I know that all have us have felt silenced and dismissed at some point because we don’t have children, but I really do believe this is beginning to shift, and with more conversation will come more understanding. We just have to keep insisting on being heard.
You can read the full article here.
It’s a fabulous piece, Lisa. Simply terrific! I’m blogging about it this morning. It was a bellwether piece in many ways. Delighted that you, Catherine-Emmanuelle, Jody and Melanie helped to shape it. Well done!
Great article. I think it thoughtfully maps today’s social and financial reality for women. I loved this quote, “…women are being forced to make a tactical decision in their 30s: resort to solo motherhood, partner with someone simply to procreate, freeze their eggs or rely on IVF. All are “choices” that are not fully choices. “
I’m always glad to see a piece about childless/free women in a prominent newspaper or magazine (including previous pieces in Macleans) — but I’m so often disappointed. I was absolutely thrilled by this one, and I think one reason why the writer actually got this one right is that, for once, she was speaking to the right people. 😉 You’re right, Lisa, things aren’t going to change overnight, but I feel a subtle shift taking place. We’ve already come a long way since I (& you) began blogging (as you noted in your recent blogoversary post). Progress!!
A great piece, was so excited to see it!
Thanks for sharing Lisa!
Anne Kingston did a fabulous job. Since not all women get to be mommies, and usually not by choice, it’s great to see a platform where our position can be communicated to wide audience. The more this topic is addressed in mainstream media, the more acceptable it will be to be childless (by choice or otherwise).
Kudos to you too for being a pioneer on the topic and for giving us a forum to connect with one another.
This was a wonderful article – thank you so much for sharing it. I’m especially happy to see Lisa quoted because this website in particular has been very helpful to me.
I also LOVE that it ended on such a positive note. Gloria Steinem’s quote is priceless. I’m ready to have some lightness around this topic for myself. I’m really focused at this point in my journey at moving beyond what other people think and what other people say. I’m tired of feeling shame and embarrassment about a situation I did nothing to cause. And that line, her attitude, her sense of humor about the whole thing. That’s what I want to cultivate in myself. A sense of “oh, I didn’t know I was supposed to feel bad about that! I didn’t know my self-worth was dependent on having kids! I think I’m fabulous just as I am!”
That’s what I want – more than a big societal shift, more than other people’s permission to be ok with being childless I just want to love myself just as I am!
I love Jennifer Aniston. Very interesting article.