Stigmatization of Non-Normative Family Size Status - Statistical Data Included

Sex Roles: A Journal of Research,  Dec, 1999  by Karla A. Mueller,  Janice D. Yoder

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Finally, seven of our normative participants reported experiencing pressure to either limit or increase their family size. Interestingly, about half reported experiencing pressure to have children (two reported experiencing this during the first 2 years of marriage, prior to having had their first child, and one reported experiencing pressure to try for a boy after having had two girls) and about half (3 of 7) reported experiencing pressure to stop after the birth of their second child. The seventh participant indicated that although she did not experience pressure from any of the specific sources I probed, she did experience internal pressure to conform to the norm owing to her recognition of societal biases.

Telephone Interview

The next portion of our discussion will focus strictly on the unstructured data gathered through the telephone interviews and thus includes only information from the three non-normative family-size groups. For each group, we will present content analyses of their descriptions of stereotyping and intrusive comments from others, including medical professionals.

A majority of the respondents interviewed (78%) believed that others had preconceived notions or stereotypes regarding women who have chosen the family size they had. Additionally, 71% of these participants indicated that they believed these stereotypes were mostly negative, 18% believed them to be mostly positive, and 11% felt they were both positive and negative. When asked whether this perceived stigmatization had ever included others inappropriately asking for an explanation of their choice of family size, 38% of participants answered affirmatively. Additionally, 36% of participants felt that they had encountered family-size bias from medical professionals in the form of unsolicited advice regarding procreation. Chi-square analyses did not reveal any significant differences among the three groups regarding any of the above endorsements. Participants then were asked to describe their perception of negative stereotypes and how they were conveyed, providing illustrative examples. Childfree women reported a variety of negative attributes which they felt others ascribed to them (see Table II for a detailed list of negative stereotypes and their frequencies). A composite of the most commonly reported attributes would depict the childfree woman to be a selfish, greedy, and nonnurturing woman who is too career-oriented and does not know much about or like children.

Six of the 15 childfree participants also reported encountering intrusive, inappropriate questioning regarding their choice of family size. These demands for an explanation ranged from the more direct: "Why wouldn't you want kids?" to the somewhat more indirect (but nonetheless equally invasive): "Is this your husband's choice?" and "Are you able to have children?" These statements, although not blatant criticisms, certainly imply that the choice to be childfree is viewed negatively.

Although a minority (5 of 15) of participants reported receiving unsolicited advice regarding their family size from medical professionals, those who did reported some disturbing practices. One woman reported that she broached the topic of having a tubal ligation with her gynecologist when in her late 20s, only to be regaled with "preaching about her kids and other people's kids" and told "you'll feel differently in your 30s." Another woman who opted for tubal ligation in her 20s (asking Planned Parenthood for a physician referral to avoid any difficulty) reported "my physician checked with me every year to make sure I was OK with my decision." It appears then that medical professionals may not always be free of bias.