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Woman’s Housewarming Party Goes Terribly Wrong, Gets Her Uninvited From Family Christmas
Women around the world are choosing to have fewer kids, with many deciding to remain completely child-free. And while it’s a personal choice, research from the UK charity Population Matters reveals that over half of 18-35 year-old women who have opted not to have children feel judged for their decision.
It’s something this Redditor recently went through with her own family. After telling her sisters—all of whom have kids—that she didn’t plan to become a mom, they took it personally. So much so, that they uninvited her from Christmas and blocked her on social media, leaving her unsure of what to do next. Read on for the full story.
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The woman chose not to have kids, partly because of her family’s history of disabilities
Image credits: Rawpixel (not the actual image)
This decision offended her sisters, who now don’t want to speak with her
Image credits: YuriArcursPeopleimages (not the actual image)
Image credits: Timur Weber (not the actual image)
Image credits: Top_Water_3544
Not having kids is often perceived as morally wrong
While being child-free is slowly becoming less of a taboo, the stigma still lingers, as this Reddit story and research show. In fact, a study published in Sex Roles: A Journal of Research revealed that choosing not to have children isn’t just judged lightly—it’s often seen as morally wrong.
The study surveyed 197 undergraduate students from a large urban university in the United States. Participants were asked to evaluate a married man or woman who either chose to have no children or two children. They were then invited to share their views on the person’s happiness and their emotional response to the decision.
Those who were child-free were perceived as far less “psychologically fulfilled” than those with children, the results concluded. The study noted that “child-free targets” triggered significantly greater feelings of moral outrage, including anger, disapproval, and even disgust.
“What’s remarkable about our findings is the moral outrage participants reported feeling toward a stranger who decided to not have children,” said Ashburn-Nardo, Vice Provost for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Drexel University and author of the study. “Our data suggests that not having children is seen not only as atypical, or surprising, but also as morally wrong.”
Ashburn-Nardo’s research, published in 2017, raised concerns that harsh judgment of child-free individuals might result in workplace or healthcare discrimination. Now, in 2024, these warnings feel even more relevant, especially in countries like the U.S., where the overturn of Roe v. Wade has sparked heated debates. With reports of women losing their lives due to lack of abortion care, there’s growing anxiety about how society treats those who choose not to have children—and what this means for their future.
Image credits: Engin Akyurt (not the actual image)
Many commenters supported the woman and believed it was a responsible choice
Still, some suggested she could have shared the news with her sisters more delicately
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What do you think ?
DC 1 month ago
People often defend disabilities instead of disabled people. Your family is like that. NTA. Maybe too early to call it good riddance, but THEY need to apologize. YOU should be blocking them.
Sue User 1 month ago
I love the comments from the disabled people, especially MisterMysterios. What those sisters are doing so selfish. To knowingly have kids that will be disabled is .. ugh. I am disabled. What is going to happen to those neices and nephews when Mom and Dad can no longer tske care of them ? They will lose the only home they know. Like one poster said, there is a world of difference between loving a disabled child andknowingly having kids with a disability. Did you know that in USA, if you have mmore than $2000 in the bank, you are no longer eligible for disability ? You are forced to live at poverty level.
James016 1 month ago
That last bit is just horrifying in the underlying thinking to come up with such a policy.
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Sabrina Longo 1 month ago
Her family is so selfish they decided to deny their children an auntie. She didn't say she hates children. I bet she was a great giver of gif, hugs and sleepovers. Now even the older children are put in the middle of the "grown ups" drama.
Angrykitten 1 month ago
I think every family needs a child free aunt or uncle. Someone who is a lot of fun and isn't burnt out on their own kids. So they can really enjoy just spending time with the various children in the family. I chose not to have a child partly as I didn't want to pass on my genetics. So much mental illness and addiction on both sides of my family. But I loved being an aunt.
Load More Replies... DC 1 month ago
People often defend disabilities instead of disabled people. Your family is like that. NTA. Maybe too early to call it good riddance, but THEY need to apologize. YOU should be blocking them.
Sue User 1 month ago
I love the comments from the disabled people, especially MisterMysterios. What those sisters are doing so selfish. To knowingly have kids that will be disabled is .. ugh. I am disabled. What is going to happen to those neices and nephews when Mom and Dad can no longer tske care of them ? They will lose the only home they know. Like one poster said, there is a world of difference between loving a disabled child andknowingly having kids with a disability. Did you know that in USA, if you have mmore than $2000 in the bank, you are no longer eligible for disability ? You are forced to live at poverty level.
James016 1 month ago
That last bit is just horrifying in the underlying thinking to come up with such a policy.
Load More Replies... Sabrina Longo 1 month ago
Her family is so selfish they decided to deny their children an auntie. She didn't say she hates children. I bet she was a great giver of gif, hugs and sleepovers. Now even the older children are put in the middle of the "grown ups" drama.
Angrykitten 1 month ago
I think every family needs a child free aunt or uncle. Someone who is a lot of fun and isn't burnt out on their own kids. So they can really enjoy just spending time with the various children in the family. I chose not to have a child partly as I didn't want to pass on my genetics. So much mental illness and addiction on both sides of my family. But I loved being an aunt.
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