Generational Shift: Exploring Millenial Perspectives on Choosing a Childfree Lifestyle| 2023

Generational Shift: Exploring Millenial Perspectives

on Choosing a Childfree Lifestyle

Authors:
Fadli Razis Ramadan , Andini Maharani2, Tatu Zakiyatun Nufus3
1

Psychology Faculty of UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, Indonesia

Abstract
This research delves into the transformative shift witnessed in the millennial generation's choice of a childfree
lifestyle, influenced by global trends and driven by factors such as career aspirations, financial considerations,
and a desire for personal freedom. The study explores the nuanced perspectives of millennials in Indonesia, where
cultural emphasis on family ties adds complexity to decision-making. The term "childfree" is examined through
historical and cultural lenses, revealing a dynamic evolution shaped by contemporary influences like technology
and social media. Utilizing a qualitative approach, the findings highlight a rising trend of individuals choosing a
childfree lifestyle, challenging traditional parenting roles. However, societal scrutiny, stigmas, and expectations
persist, creating a challenging landscape for those opting for childlessness. The multifaceted reasons behind this
choice include the pursuit of freedom, both in terms of career and personal goals, as well as medical,
psychological, and economic considerations. The millennial generation's embrace of the childfree lifestyle
signifies a broader societal shift, prompting a reevaluation of happiness and success in contemporary Indonesia.

Keywords: millennial generation, childfree lifestyle, societal shift, voluntary childlessness

INTRODUCTION
Generational shifts bring significant transformation in societal decision-making
regarding life choices. While not all generations make uniform decisions, as evident in the
context of choosing to have offspring through marriage. One notable shift is the commitment
of the millennial generation to lead a childfree married life. The term "childfree" gained
popularity in Indonesia in 2021 through influencer Gita Savitri, also known as GitaSav, who
expressed her decision in a video on the YouTube channel "Analisa Channel." This decision
reflects a global trend among the millennial generation.
The millennial generation, born between the early 1980s and mid-1990s, is
characterized by their familiarity with digital technology and a globalized worldview. Their
upbringing occurred during a period of rapid technological advancement, shaping their
perspectives and influencing their life choices. The noticeable trend of declining birth rates in
Indonesia over the years aligns with the global shift towards smaller family sizes. As part of
this trend, millennials cite various reasons for embracing the childfree lifestyle, including
career aspirations, financial considerations, and a desire for personal freedom.
Some countries with the lowest birth rates, such as South Korea according to World Bank data
in 2021, show a crude birth rate as low as 5. Data also indicates a decline in the crude birth rate
from 2007 to 2021 in the United States. Although Indonesia maintains a relatively high birth
rate, there has been a decrease from 21 in 2007 to 16 in 2021.
Indonesia's cultural norms, deeply connected to family ties and the expectation to
continue the family lineage, sometimes view the childfree choice as unconventional. This
cultural aspect adds complexity to the decision-making process for millennials opting for the
childfree lifestyle. As social norms and millennial generations continue to redefine traditional
expectations, understanding their perspective on voluntary childlessness becomes crucial. This
article aims to explore the nuanced views of the millennial generation regarding the decision
to remain childfree or adopt a childfree lifestyle, considering various factors shaping their
choices.

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 Generational Shift: Exploring Millenial Perspectives on Choosing a Childfree Lifestyle| 2023

LITERATURE REVIEW
a. Definition of Childfree in Literature
Childfree, a fusion of "child" and "free," signifies freedom from parental
responsibilities. This term extends beyond the decision to abstain from biological
parenthood and includes consideration of adoption. The childfree lifestyle is not
confined solely to married heterosexual couples; it is open to various segments of
society.
While the term may sound unfamiliar in Indonesia, it has long been used in Western
regions. Childfree falls into three categories of childlessness: involuntary childlessness,
encompassing those who have lost the ability to have biological children; childless by
circumstance, referring to those who postpone parenthood due to psychological or
biological reasons; and voluntary childlessness/childfree, including individuals who
intentionally or permanently choose not to have children (Park, 2005, as cited in
Bhambhani & Inbanathan, 2018, p. 160; Ratu Pricillia & Saraswati Putri, 2023).
b. History of Childfree
Examining the chronological history of childfree reveals varied reasons why
individuals choose not to have children. This insight is drawn from an article published
by The Washington Post, discussing Rachel Chrastil's book titled How to Be Childless:
A History and Philosophy of Life Without Children:(Priyambodo, 2023)
1) 1500s
Women in northwestern Europe began delaying marriage until their mid-20s,
prioritizing establishing independent households over early marriages.
2) 1800s
Increased infertility among white women in the United States accompanied
social changes and women's equality. The rising notion of elevated marriage
opened possibilities for remaining unmarried and childless.
3) 1900s
The childfree phenomenon reached its peak. At least 1 in 5 American women
born between 1885 and 1915 chose not to have children.
4) 21st Century
Millions of women worldwide reach the age of 45 without giving birth. Intense
debates surround the decision to have children. The childfree phenomenon is on
the rise, marked by the emergence of the term "voluntary childlessness" or
childfree.
c. Childfree in Indonesia
The emergence of the choice not to have offspring in Indonesia is closely linked to
the influence of the technological era and the rapid flow of information on social media.
Before the widespread discussion about Gita Savitri's statement of not planning to have
children, there is a significant possibility that some individuals already had views on
this choice. Before 2020, the term "childfree" was not considered at all in Indonesian
society, as the term actually surfaced in 1901 (Merriam-Webster, n.d.) and was only
known in Western regions. As of the creation of this research, there has been no study
on Childfree written or published before 2019. This demonstrates that childfree is still
a new and intriguing topic for discussion in Indonesia.
Public views on childfree vary, leading to both pros and cons (Jenuri et al., 2022).
Childfree is not a wrong choice if agreed upon wisely and for clear reasons (Khasanah
& Ridho, 2021). Previous research on childfree, conducted by (Susanti & Nurchayati,
2019), discusses coping strategies when experiencing life as involuntary childlessness.
Through DATAin, an article found in the Central Statistics Agency or BPS, it is

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indicated that the opposition to childfree is often associated with religion. This may
also be related to the pronatalist culture in Indonesia (Ratu Pricillia & Saraswati Putri,
2023).
In contrast to Western regions where many people chose not to have children in
the 1800s (Rowland, 2007), Indonesia continued to have many offspring. This was due
to the fact that during that time, Indonesia was still under Dutch colonial rule, which
required the people of the archipelago to have descendants, leading to a high
demographic to serve as additional labor for the colonizers, due to the forced land
system or cultuurstelsel (Houben, 1992). In other words, even though the term
"childfree" already exists, Indonesian society only became aware of it in the 21st
century.

METHODOLOGY
This research method uses a qualitative method with a description analysis approach to
describe the millennial generation's perspective on childless lifestyles. This approach focuses
on collecting information by studying scientific articles related to the title being researched.
Scientific articles used in the form of published journals as the main source of data collection.
The analysis technique of this research is to review literature review, which is to read carefully
and thoroughly on reading sources to obtain valid information related to the topic being studied,
then the data that has been obtained is compiled by describing in detail the phenomenon of
childfree in the millennial generation.

RESULT AND FINDING

Shifts in perspectives on life have become an intriguing phenomenon in the context of
the millennial generation. With ongoing changes, an increasing number of individuals from
this generation are opting for a childfree lifestyle, a decision known as childfree. This trend
represents a noteworthy phenomenon reflecting significant changes in how the millennial
generation views traditional roles as parents. Over time, this trend indicates a rising number of
individuals voluntarily choosing not to have children. This decision has become a striking
phenomenon within the millennial generation, reflecting their outlook on coping with evolving
societal pressures.
Views regarding the childfree lifestyle in Indonesia remain under scrutiny. While
Indonesian society generally respects an individual's personal decision, there tends to be an
evaluation of happiness and life success from a traditional perspective associated with marriage
and having children. This has led to the emergence of stigmas against individuals or couples
choosing not to have children. In Indonesia, the presence of children is deemed important for
married couples, with societal expectations prompting questions like "when will you have
children?" Cultural norms in Indonesia consider having a child as a source of happiness and
meaning in a family, often seen as a divine blessing (Siswanto & Nurhasanah, 2022).
The millennial generation's decision to adopt a childfree lifestyle is not without reason.
They have varied reasons for choosing childfree, influenced by demands and factors that have
reshaped their perspective on forming a family.
1. Freedom Factory
For millennials embracing a childfree lifestyle, the decision is not due to
economic or psychological pressure but stems from a deep-seated desire. The
choice of childfree reflects a yearning for freedom, manifested as a desire to be
independent and free from the responsibilities of parenthood. Bhambhani and
Inbanathan's (2018) research in India revealed motivations for individuals or
couples not to have children include a desire for the freedom to pursue their careers

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 Generational Shift: Exploring Millenial Perspectives on Choosing a Childfree Lifestyle| 2023

and a reluctance to commit to a lifelong responsibility for a child. This

transformation in the concept of reproduction and motherhood is influenced by
modernization, urbanization, economic factors, and political support (Ratu Pricillia
& Saraswati Putri, 2023).
Freedom for couples choosing childfree is a path to happiness. Living without
children provides them with the opportunity to design their lives according to their
personal goals. By rejecting the role of parents, they open wide doors to personal
freedom, free from the obligations of raising children.
2. Medical and Psychological Problem
In the modern era, millennials often face various social challenges and pressures
that can lead to stress and create psychological problems. Psychological issues are
related to a person's thoughts and feelings, causing excessive feelings of anxiety,
fear, and restlessness that can hinder daily activities.
Psychological conditions, such as childhood trauma due to fear of their child
experiencing different parenting due to being a victim of toxicity from their mother
during childhood, are reasons for choosing a childfree life (Siswanto & Nurhasanah,
2022). Couples or individuals experiencing psychological problems, such as trauma
from past events, are more likely to choose a childfree life due to fears and worries
about being good parents.
Health issues are also a significant reason millennials decide on childfree living.
Some couples may plan to have children but face medical health problems that force
them to postpone or even cancel the decision to become parents. Medical factors,
such as fertility issues, lead them to focus on their own health care and maintain
emotional balance.
3. Economic Factors
Economic factors are one of the reasons millennials choose not to have children
in their lives. When a couple decides to have a child, it means they must be
financially prepared to share the expenses for the child's needs and other household
necessities.
Having a child requires not only mental but also financial maturity. The
prevailing thought that supports the idea that economics is one of the factors
influencing someone not to have children now is because the reality is very clear
about the high costs associated with raising a child. Even the costs for a child start
from pregnancy, thinking about the costs of a baby's growth in the womb to giving
birth, not to mention the costs when they are born until they grow up. Some people
choose to be childfree because they realize their financial incapacity to raise a child.
Those who choose childfree make various considerations and cost calculations that
must be incurred if they raise a child until adulthood. This is because, for them,
raising a child comes at a very high cost (Siswanto & Nurhasanah, 2022).
The millennial generation decides on childfree because they consider the
significant amount of expenses that will be incurred to fund a child. Many
millennial couples choosing early marriage also cause their financial condition to
be immature due to unpreparedness.

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 Generational Shift: Exploring Millenial Perspectives on Choosing a Childfree Lifestyle| 2023

CONCLUSION
The millennial generation is witnessing a transformative shift in societal norms,
particularly in their choice of a childfree lifestyle. Influenced by global trends and driven by
factors such as career aspirations, financial considerations, and a desire for personal freedom,
millennials are redefining traditional expectations related to marriage and parenthood. This
shift is evident in Indonesia, where the cultural emphasis on family ties and continuing the
family lineage adds complexity to the decision-making process. As explored in the literature
review, the term "childfree" encompasses various forms of childlessness, including voluntary
choices, involuntary circumstances, and postponement due to psychological or biological
reasons. The history of childfree reveals a dynamic evolution, with contemporary influences
like technology and social media playing a crucial role in introducing and shaping the concept
in Indonesia.
The research methodology employed a qualitative approach, utilizing scientific articles
to delve into the nuanced perspectives of the millennial generation on childlessness. The
findings highlight a rising trend of individuals choosing a childfree lifestyle, reflecting a
departure from traditional parenting roles. However, societal scrutiny, stigmas, and
expectations persist, creating a challenging landscape for those opting for childlessness in
Indonesia. The reasons behind the millennial generation's decision for a childfree life are
multifaceted. The pursuit of freedom, both in terms of career and personal goals, emerges as a
significant factor. Additionally, medical, psychological, and economic considerations
contribute to this choice, with individuals weighing the high costs associated with raising
children and recognizing their financial limitations.
In essence, the millennial generation's embrace of the childfree lifestyle signifies a
broader societal shift, challenging established norms and prompting a reevaluation of happiness
and success. The path to personal freedom and fulfillment, coupled with a recognition of the
complexities surrounding this choice, underscores the importance of understanding and
respecting diverse life decisions in the evolving landscape of contemporary Indonesia.

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