Publication details
Living voluntarily without fatherhood: an interpretative phenomenological analysis of childfree men in the Czech Republic
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2026 |
| Type | Peer-reviewed scientific article |
| Magazine / Source | Journal of Family Studies |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| web | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13229400.2026.2659126 |
| Doi | https://doi.org/10.1080/13229400.2026.2659126 |
| Keywords | Childfree; men; fatherhood; vasectomy; reproductive autonomy |
| Description | Although fatherhood is not universally experienced as a central marker of masculinity, dominant cultural narratives in many societies continue to associate adulthood and masculinity with parenthood. While the phenomenon of childfreeness has attracted growing attention, research has focused mostly on women, leaving men's experiences unexplored. This study explores how childfree men in the Czech Republic make sense of their decision. Using interpretative phenomenological analysis, 10 in-depth interviews with men aged 24-46 who identified as childfree were conducted. The analysis summarized four group experiential themes: Living freely on my own terms, Resisting the script, Relating and loving without reproducing, Standing by the decision for better for worse. Childfreeness was described not as a rejection of parenthood but as an affirmation of personal values such as freedom, autonomy and responsibility. Participants reflected on resisting family and societal pressures, finding alternative ways of care and preparing for ageing without children through friendships, community and financial planning. Several participants also emphasized the permanence and certainty of their decision by undergoing a vasectomy. By focusing on men in a Central European, post-socialist context, this study contributes to expanding the international literature on family diversity and highlights how childfreeness can be understood as a positive, value-driven path. |
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