Others Like Me: The Lives of Women Without Children

Childless or child-free women are often stereotyped as deficient or incapable of love. In this debut book, Louie shares that she knew that she did not want children, and she had difficulty finding positive examples of other women who led childless or child-free lives. Her book begins with her childhood in Brazil and shows how her decision to not have children was shaped by her relationships, particularly with her own mother. Louie interviews other women who do not have children for various reasons. The subjects are mainly in their thirties and forties and comprise a variety of nationalities. They relate their reasons for not having children; the effect that it has on their relationships with family, partners and others; and the realities of their lives without children. Louie recounts her own acceptance of living a child-free life after the dissolution of her marriage, followed by her efforts to advocate for childless and child-free women. She also offers a resource list of books and other media on the topic.