A woman in her sixties, without a home or family of her own, has spoken out against what she describes as daily bigotry faced by the childless. In a powerful essay, she rejects the label of failure, insisting she is a survivor, and calls for an end to dismissive attitudes towards those without children.
She recounts numerous hurtful encounters, from a comedian who lost interest upon learning she had no children, to a friend who implied a childless midwife had 'nothing'. The language used about the childless, she argues, is relentlessly demeaning. 'Not having kids means I mean nothing in our society,' she writes, describing the realisation as a devastating blow.
The writer is particularly critical of political rhetoric that excludes non-parents, such as references to 'hardworking families' and comments by Environment Secretary Andrea Leadsom, who suggested that those without children lack a 'tangible stake' in the country's future. She describes Leadsom's remarks as 'a punch in the womb' that left her distressed for days.
Despite the pain, she refuses to be seen as a failure. 'I’m a fucking great survivor. All unhappily childless people are,' she declares. She urges others to challenge the everyday bigotry, saying she will no longer stay silent when faced with thoughtless comments. 'Why isn’t everyone furious about this?' she asks.
