Married with no kids: negotiating the decision to remain childfree in Singapore

Abstract

The childfree lifestyle has gained increasing global acceptance in recent years. However, in a pronatalist society like Singapore, where parenthood is viewed as an expected course of action within a heteronormative union, childfree couples often face significant societal pressure to have children. This study explores how married couples in Singapore arrive at the decision to remain childfree, and the strategies used to navigate a childfree identity. Through semi-structured interviews with eight childfree couples, findings revealed that couples arrived at this decision either through early articulation or gradual postponement, influenced by pull factors such as the appeal of freedom and push factors including the perceived opportunity costs of parenthood. The study also highlights how childfree individuals experience pronatalist attitudes particularly in the workplace and at family gatherings, employing stigma management strategies to negotiate and justify their choice.