Abstract
This study explored how individuals that are childfree
by choice are impacted by pronatalist messages that they receive. By utilizing
a grounded theory approach for this qualitative study, a deeper understanding
was gained of the interpersonal experience of individuals that identify as
childfree by choice. Pronatalist messages were found to have varying degrees of
pressure and escalate as individuals continued to resist their pressure. The
negative messages were primarily directed at women and were categorized as
hostile. The men were found to receive mostly positive messages that were
categorized as persuasive. The sources of the direct messages are through the
relationships closest to the childfree individuals which suggest persistent and
regular exposure to them. The impact was found to be one of two possible
experiences: anxiety or gaslighting. Anxiety was observed through the
participants attempting to resist impact by enacting a defensive or avoidant state.
Gaslighting was evidenced by participants absorbing impact through
internalizing the pronatalist messages and judgements, or by questioning
themselves.
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