Rating: 
Summary: RE: Must reading for all women
Review: The "Childless Revolution" recently authored by Madelyn Cain is a thoughtful and insightful look at the lives of women without children, and their reasons for and comfort with---a life without children. The author tackles a subject that has been taboo for a long period of time. Adults who are parents often make assumptions about the lives of those without children. Most of these assumptions are not true, and do not have basis in fact. A common assumption, for example, is that adults without children will have a miserable and unhappy old age. In fact, research mentioned in the book by Ms. Cain show that there is no significant difference in overall life contentment between those elderly women with children-and those without children.The author covers the two main groups of adults without children-those who are "childfree by choice" and those who are "childfree by chance." Within those two categories, she breaks it down further and talks about the variety of reasons that contribute to individuals belonging to one of the groups. The issues covered in this book would be of tremendous help to today's parents-some of who will be the parent of an adult who does not have children. Rather than having this issue catch a parent "by surprise", it is important to be knowledgeable about this topic and to be able to understand and support your family members. I appreciated the fact that she was able to point out that the experience of adoption was not for everyone. Adoption is based on loss--loss for the child of his or her birthparents, and in some case loss to the adoptive parent-who may not be able to bear children biologically. Adoption requires a specific set of understandings and skills from a parent; one that takes into account the unique needs of the child who is adopted. Some childfree by chance adults felt that they were not up to this task, and wisely made the choice not to adopt. Adults who are childfree are a steadily increasing percent of our population. It is time for people in general to understand this issue, and to know that a childfree life is not a road to misery and unhappiness, but can be a happy and productive one.
Rating: 
Summary: Comprehensive and well-researched
Review: This book is a comprehensive, and well researched documentation of the many reasons women do not have children. Cain provides an in-depth historical and statistical background to birthrates and childlessness, which is very informative, as well as short biographies of several famous women without children. It is an easy read, a nice balance of facts and personal interviews with over 100 childless (Cain's chosen term) women. I do wonder why Cain titled this book with the word "Revolution", as there is no implication that women are not having children as a protest or reaction to any specific or unifying factor. Rather, she illustrates that the reasons for childless/free-ness are vast and varied. The title may be misleading. Except for a single sentence, Cain doesn't discuss the reasons men are childless, so perhaps a more accurate title might simply be "Woman Without Children." Furthermore, get that controversial and negative word - childLESS - off the cover and this book might be better received. Cain categorizes childless women into 3 primary categories: Those who have chosen to be ChildFREE, applying this term only to those who are totally happy about their choice; Those who are ChildLESS due to infertility or other uncontrollable (medical) factors and are unhappy with their inability to have children; Those who are ChildLESS by happenstance, such as delaying children until past childbearing age, having a partner who doesn't want children (or more children) or being single and unwilling to have a child out of wedlock. The author acknowledges that this may be the largest percentage of childless women. Before I even opened this book, I read the brief author bio on the back cover. As a woman without child, upon reading that the author was a mother, I immediately put up my defenses. I was happily surprised to find this was a balanced, fair and honest dissertation, that neither promoted childlessness or motherhood, but encouraged all women to be aware of their choices. Cain introduces herself as a woman who was almost childless due to infertility but endured years of medical treatments to conceive. Her identity is very strongly tied to motherhood, and admits that she had a hard time understanding women who are not driven to mother as she was. Because of the author's personal experience, the strongest focus of the book were in the section addressing infertility and regrets. She also spends several pages warning women who want children not to wait too long or believe they can rely on medicine to ensure conception. Those who are happiest with their choice receive the least ink and Cain doesn't recognize that some who are infertile or childless by happenstance come to not only to accept, but rejoice in being childfree. Finally, I would have liked more background on the pressure to have children from society, family and friends, and how the women interviewed deal/dealt with external pressures or disrespect targeted at the childless/free woman. Overall, a well written and informative work, I would recommend The Childless Revolution to readers looking for acknowledgment and validation of their non-motherhood. I would like to see this book as required reading for family therapists, and it also may be enlightening to family members and friends of childless/free women. No Kidding! Delaware Water Gap chapter --------------------------------
Rating:
Summary: An excellent review of a growing population
Review: This book was highly insightful and very well written. Women of every age group and situation poured their hearts out to tell their stories. Some still felt it was neccessary to use an assumed name as they did not want to be identified. Just goes to show that in 2001 there is still a stigma attached to being childfree, whether by choice or by chance. I reccommend this book to any woman that has yet to decide on having children, and to those that have made up their minds.
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