I Can’t Be Myself If I’m a Mother : A Thematic Analysis of Bisexual Women’s Experiences of Being Childfree
| Autoři | |
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| Rok publikování | 2025 |
| Druh | Další prezentace na konferencích |
| Fakulta / Pracoviště MU | |
| Citace | |
| Popis | In many societies, women’s worth is still closely tied to motherhood – and those who choose not to have children often face stigma, dismissal, or pressure to change their minds. This paper explores the lived experiences of bisexual women who identify as childfree in the Czech context, where both bisexuality and voluntary non-motherhood are still largely marginalized in public discourse. Based on in-depth interviews with 11 bisexual-identified women aged 24 to 41, this study uses reflexive thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006) to examine how these women make sense of their decision to remain childfree, how they narrate it in relation to their identities, and how they navigate responses from others. The analysis reveals that being childfree is not a passive absence of motherhood but a proactive, values-based life orientation. Rather than a simple rejection of motherhood, being childfree emerged as a thoughtful and deeply felt orientation to life – one shaped by values such as autonomy, ethical responsibility, and self-preservation. Many participants spoke about their mental health histories or experiences with trauma as key reasons for not wanting to raise children. Some described pregnancy as physically unimaginable due to fear, or chronic illness. Others framed their decision as part of a political or ecological stance. Across interviews, participants emphasized that being childfree allowed them to live more authentically, pursue meaningful work, and invest in communities of care outside of parenthood. While bisexuality was not always central to how participants described their experiences, it consistently shaped the relational and cultural frameworks within which they negotiated life choices. For many, bisexuality made it easier to imagine alternative relationship structures and to question normative expectations about what a “complete” adult life should look like. Several participants compared the relative acceptance of their bisexual identity to the more persistent social misunderstanding or disapproval they encountered as childfree women. This paper highlights the intersectional ways in which bisexual identity, reproductive autonomy, and gendered social norms interact in everyday life. It contributes to growing conversations about reproductive justice and queerness by foregrounding voices that are too often silenced or overlooked, even within LGBTQ+ spaces. By focusing on bisexual women’s perspectives, the study offers new insight into how childfree identity can be a generative, coherent, and politically conscious way of living. This research was funded by MUNI/A/1673/2024 Factors of successful psychological and social functioning in a changing world (WELLBE). |
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