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Abstract(s)
Um número crescente de mulheres tem optado por não ter filhos, desafiando o tradicionalismo que associa a feminilidade exclusivamente à maternidade. Esta pesquisa investigou as experiências, significados e impactos da não-maternidade entre as mulheres portuguesas sem filhos por opção, analisando suas implicações nos âmbitos individual, social e familiar. Para tanto, baseia-se numa abordagem qualitativa que empregou a entrevista semiestruturada como instrumento de coleta de dados. Foram entrevistadas 10 mulheres com idades entre os 24 e 56 anos, residentes em centros urbanos em Portugal e voluntariamente não-mães, revelando que a escolha foi influenciada por percepções de sobrecarga materna, perda de autonomia e desigualdade de gênero. A análise de conteúdo revelou que, apesar das variações geracionais e contextuais, as entrevistadas compartilham a percepção de que a não-maternidade é muitas vezes encarada como uma opção estigmatizada pela sociedade, e que as mulheres que tomam esta opção são vistas como egoístas ou “fora da norma”. No entanto, ressaltam a não-maternidade como uma escolha legítima e que traz sentimentos de realização, liberdade e maturidade. A decisão de não ter filhos é multifacetada e complexa, e muitas vezes a ambivalência faz parte desse processo. A análise revelou que a maternidade como única definição da feminilidade não abrange a diversidade das experiências femininas contemporâneas.
More and more women are choosing not to have children, challenging the traditional notion that exclusively associates femininity with motherhood. This research investigated the experiences, meanings, and impacts of non-motherhood among Portuguese women who are childfree by choice, analyzing its implications in individual, social, and familial contexts. To this end, a qualitative approach was employed, using semi-structured interviews as the data collection instrument. Ten women, aged between 24 and 56, living in urban centers in Portugal and voluntarily childfree, were interviewed. The findings revealed that this choice was influenced by perceptions of maternal burden, loss of autonomy, and gender inequality. Content analysis showed that, despite generational and contextual variations, the interviewees share the perception that non-motherhood is often viewed as a stigmatized choice by society and that women who make this choice are seen as selfish or “outside the norm.” However, they emphasize non-motherhood as a legitimate choice, bringing feelings of fulfillment, freedom, and maturity. The decision not to have children is multifaceted and complex, with ambivalence often being part of this process. The analysis revealed that defining femininity solely through motherhood does not encompass the diversity of contemporary women’s experiences.
More and more women are choosing not to have children, challenging the traditional notion that exclusively associates femininity with motherhood. This research investigated the experiences, meanings, and impacts of non-motherhood among Portuguese women who are childfree by choice, analyzing its implications in individual, social, and familial contexts. To this end, a qualitative approach was employed, using semi-structured interviews as the data collection instrument. Ten women, aged between 24 and 56, living in urban centers in Portugal and voluntarily childfree, were interviewed. The findings revealed that this choice was influenced by perceptions of maternal burden, loss of autonomy, and gender inequality. Content analysis showed that, despite generational and contextual variations, the interviewees share the perception that non-motherhood is often viewed as a stigmatized choice by society and that women who make this choice are seen as selfish or “outside the norm.” However, they emphasize non-motherhood as a legitimate choice, bringing feelings of fulfillment, freedom, and maturity. The decision not to have children is multifaceted and complex, with ambivalence often being part of this process. The analysis revealed that defining femininity solely through motherhood does not encompass the diversity of contemporary women’s experiences.
Description
Dissertação para obtenção de grau de Mestre em Família e Género
Keywords
não-maternidade maternidade identidade feminina mulheres sem filhos non-motherhood motherhood female identity childfree women