No Baby on Board: Choosing Not to Have Children... Against All Odds!, Gisèle Palancz

No baby on board Choosing not to have children… For millennia, having children was taken for granted. It was the destiny of women from puberty. Those who did not have children were ostracized by society. In the 20th century, this certainty was challenged thanks to mass contraception methods and demographic pressures. All over the West, women realized with astonishment that the desire for children was not necessarily vital. Many women in many countries saw it as an inescapable fate. The author provides a very well-documented portrait of the history of motherhood through the ages. In our modern Western societies, however, it is, in principle, a choice. Yet, even if questioning it is legitimate today, it is not always well received. Social pressure to conform to the traditional mold of motherhood remains enormous. Defending one's choice therefore requires a good dose of courage. Prejudices are tenacious, and many women end up giving in, because they are tired of justifying themselves. Those who maintain their choice usually try to keep it quiet to avoid sometimes quite strong reactions. The media has no qualms about talking extensively about sexuality, relationships, raising children, in vitro fertilization, etc. Questioning the call of motherhood, however, seems to be the last taboo. This essay therefore aims to stimulate reflection in the reader, beyond received ideas and truths that seem immutable. The author gives voice to more than 50 women who testify to their choice not to give life.