A review by cubaitlubin
Without Children: The Long History of Not Being a Mother by Peggy O'Donnell Heffington

hopeful informative fast-paced

4.0

Quick, informative, and validating read on the historical and modern reasons for choosing non-parenthood. Divided into 6 chapters, each with a different reason for not being a mother, the author explores specific women across history, as well as overall populations and cultures, that reflect that reasoning - or have fought against it. Fairly intersectional and definitely up to date (the 2022 overturn of Roe v Wade pops up throughout) - an accessible and affirming read. The conclusion's reflections and call to supporting all futures is uplifting and not at all isolating. I worried books like this would pit those who choose not to become parents against those who do, and I'm glad that was not the case.

We must think of the next generation as a project that demands work from all of us, not an individual one that parents shoulder alone, if we have any hope of making it out of the crises that are coming for all of us: environmental, political, cultural. ... If there are trenches - and it sure as hell looks like there are - we're in them together. We might as well have each other's back.