Review 398: Without Children

Without Children: The Long History of Not Being a Mother by Peggy O'Donnell Heffington
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book is a close and deep look at why some women have not borne children through history. The book doesn’t cover the entire world, it is focused on the United States, although occasionally other areas are mentioned.

Coverage includes ways that women have prevented having children, such as contraceptives and abortion. Here the history is as up to date as possible, with the ever-changing landscape. As the author states, getting rid of a pregnancy began around the time of children being born, it is nothing new. The legality of it being merely religion and politics.

While there tends to be a stronger lean on why not to have children, there is coverage on women who want to conceive but cannot. And how through the years this has changed in providing more options available to women.

There are a few short biographies of women who have championed not having children, which has always been a bit shocking.

This isn’t the type of book one would read if trying to decide if they should or not have children, unless history helps. This is a book about what has happened in the past and covers the many reasons women are childfree.

Thanks to Basic Books/Seal Press and NetGalley for an uncorrected electronic advance review copy of this book. However, I listened to the audiobook version of the book and the narration was well done.

Thoughts before reading:

There are many reasons why I did not have children, and sometimes have been felt to believe that I am less than because of that. With the world just surpassing another billion mark, the option to not have kids should be seen as a valid and embraced decision.

I'm looking forward to what this book holds forth.