Childfree adults have a basic need (and right) to have environments which foster adult-only spaces and interactions.

Since we’ve had to unexpectedly delay the release of Episode 3 due to some hardware and WiFi issues with the computer which has the editing software installed, we decided to give you another blog post to tide you over! Continuing our discussion on the article about adult bullying Balt shared in Episode 2, let’s look at the ways childfree by choice people and their needs may be ignored or excluded by our larger culture and individual parents (or their cliques) in specifically social settings.

Being Ignored or Excluded

As much as child-free people are put on the spot and harassed for their decision, one might think that being ignored or excluded isn’t a relevant factor in the bullying of those without children. But, on closer examination, it’s not uncommon for animated talks around the water cooler about family and children to go silent as we walk into the room. We often will receive glares and rebukes if we try to offer our views to participate in the conversation. Once valued friendships can become neglected and abandoned by new parents once the first child is born; there’s no more time for adult friendships with the childfree when there’s a baby and family to care for. Unwarranted pitying looks from those who have started having children are commonplace to those who are kid-free, followed by silence and solitude once old friends eventually accept that we will not give in to peer pressure to procreate. As the parents herd themselves together, the childfree are left to seek out other adults with similar freedom and interests because many of the supportive relationships we’ve fostered over the years have been discarded with the baby’s bathwater. New relationships can be […]