Get Premium
Dark mode theme is available exclusively for premium users. Learn more about the benefits of subscribing.
No fees, cancel anytime.
Dark Mode 
No fees, cancel anytime 
then open in external browser
and click "Open in External Browser" 
Woman’s Housewarming Party Ends With A Sister Fight, It Gets Her Uninvited From Family Christmas
Women around the world are choosing to have fewer kids, with many deciding to remain completely child-free. While it’s a personal choice whether or not to start a family, research from Population Matters found that over half of young women who have opted not to have children have faced judgment for their decision.
That’s something one Redditor experienced with her own family. After informing her sisters—all of whom are mothers—that she doesn’t plan to have kids, they immediately took it personally. So much so, that they uninvited her from Christmas and blocked her on social media, leaving her unsure of what to do next. Below, you’ll find all of the details, as well as some of the replies readers shared.
RELATED:
The woman chose not to have kids, partly because of her family’s history of disabilities
Image credits: Rawpixel (not the actual image)
This decision offended her sisters, who now don’t want to speak with her
Image credits: YuriArcursPeopleimages (not the actual image)
Image credits: Timur Weber (not the actual image)
Image credits: Top_Water_3544
Not wanting kids is often perceived as a moral failing
While being child-free is slowly becoming less of a taboo, the stigma still lingers, as this Reddit story and research show. In fact, a study published in Sex Roles: A Journal of Research revealed that choosing not to have children isn’t just judged lightly—it’s often seen as morally wrong.
The study surveyed 197 undergraduate students from a large urban university in the United States. Participants were asked to evaluate a married man or woman who either chose to have no children or two children. They were then invited to share their views on the person’s happiness and their emotional response to the decision.
Those who were child-free were perceived as far less “psychologically fulfilled” than those with children, the results concluded. The study noted that “child-free targets” triggered significantly greater feelings of moral outrage, including anger, disapproval, and even disgust.
“What’s remarkable about our findings is the moral outrage participants reported feeling toward a stranger who decided to not have children,” said Ashburn-Nardo, Vice Provost for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Drexel University and author of the study. “Our data suggests that not having children is seen not only as atypical, or surprising, but also as morally wrong.”
Ashburn-Nardo’s research, published in 2017, raised concerns that harsh judgment of child-free individuals might result in workplace or healthcare discrimination. Now, in 2024, these warnings feel even more relevant, especially in countries like the U.S., where the overturn of Roe v. Wade has sparked heated debates. With reports of women losing their lives due to lack of abortion care, there’s growing anxiety about how society treats those who choose not to have children—and what this means for their future.
Image credits: Engin Akyurt (not the actual image)
Many commenters supported the woman and believed it was a responsible choice
Still, some suggested she could have shared the news with her sisters more delicately
What do you think ?
FreeTheUnicorn 4 weeks ago
It's always wild to me that people will get angry that a person they think is a selfish b***h doesn't want kids. I don't think it's selfish to not have kids, but if you do, why would you want a selfish person to be a parent?
marcelo D. 4 weeks ago
well, when that person challenges their world view, they can either admit that all they tell themselves to go on might not be as right, since someone else actually hates it, or they can double down, and claim the other is a AH, so they can go back to being complacent with their half truths they tell themselves to go on
Load More Replies...
Heather Reagan 3 weeks ago
Those YTAs are AHs themselves. "You could have been more gentle." She was gentle the first NINE TIMES! And they kept asking!
Eri J 3 weeks ago
A cousin of mine married a woman "M" with Huntingtons disease. In the past year or so she has gone downhill FAST. Her care has now fallen upon my Aunt as her son (my cousin) has to work. (Aunt has always been a SaHM). Why? Because M's dad refuses to help. He lost his wife to this disease and another kid. It's frustrating because he and his wife knew this could pass to their kids. It did. She died because it's from her side of the family. And he's refusing to have anything to do with his kids that have the disease. My cousin and M have a son, but never have (probably never will) have him tested to see if the disease passed to him. This lady made a mature choice to not have kids.
amy lee 4 weeks ago
Sounds like c the sisters kept pushing when she was trying to change the subject and be tactful.
Load More Replies... FreeTheUnicorn 4 weeks ago
It's always wild to me that people will get angry that a person they think is a selfish b***h doesn't want kids. I don't think it's selfish to not have kids, but if you do, why would you want a selfish person to be a parent?
marcelo D. 4 weeks ago
well, when that person challenges their world view, they can either admit that all they tell themselves to go on might not be as right, since someone else actually hates it, or they can double down, and claim the other is a AH, so they can go back to being complacent with their half truths they tell themselves to go on
Load More Replies... Heather Reagan 3 weeks ago
Those YTAs are AHs themselves. "You could have been more gentle." She was gentle the first NINE TIMES! And they kept asking!
Eri J 3 weeks ago
A cousin of mine married a woman "M" with Huntingtons disease. In the past year or so she has gone downhill FAST. Her care has now fallen upon my Aunt as her son (my cousin) has to work. (Aunt has always been a SaHM). Why? Because M's dad refuses to help. He lost his wife to this disease and another kid. It's frustrating because he and his wife knew this could pass to their kids. It did. She died because it's from her side of the family. And he's refusing to have anything to do with his kids that have the disease. My cousin and M have a son, but never have (probably never will) have him tested to see if the disease passed to him. This lady made a mature choice to not have kids.
amy lee 4 weeks ago
Sounds like c the sisters kept pushing when she was trying to change the subject and be tactful.
Load More Replies... You May Like Lady Lies About Her 10YO "Independent" Son, Gets Dramatic After Babysitter Refuses To Take The Job Woman Is Made To Choose Between Work And Husband's Family, Picks Her Career: "Just Figure It Out" Mom Plans To Leave All Her Inheritance To Her Lazy Son, Daughter's Hubs Loses It After Finding Out
Denis Krotovas
Jonas Žvilius
Monika Pašukonytė
Related on Bored Panda
-13
11