I live without children

Nine Women, Eight Interviews, Nine Stories of Childlessness

Over the course of two years, ČT presenter Martina Hynková Vrbová interviewed childless women of different ages, professions, and interests. The result is a fascinating mosaic of stories that explore profound themes of family, values, and partnerships.

One woman longed for children but was unable to have them. Another woman reconsidered her desire for a family after being raped. Another woman is indifferent to children, and a lesbian couple and a woman approaching her centenary also reflect on their child-free existence. Discover the powerful stories of women who are childless, both by choice and by circumstance.

I have several childless women in my immediate circle. One of them decided this in her youth and does not regret her decision, even now in her mature years. She is at peace with her childlessness; it's what she wanted. However, there are also women who must come to terms with the absence of their own child almost daily. And it doesn't have to be insensitive or even offensive reactions from others. It's enough when someone enthusiastically boasts about their own children, how beautiful they are, and all they have achieved, or when a large, happy family gets on the bus... It hurts anew every time.

Some books are more important than others. The one written by Martina Hynková Vrbová is one of the essential ones. For mainstream society, childlessness is, on the one hand, a somewhat incomprehensible matter, and on the other, it is a taboo. It's a topic that isn't discussed. Martina discusses it. And she does so in a way that her book can be a source of strength for the childless and a bridge to understanding between parents and non-parents.

A person's worth does not lie in their children or even in their work, but solely in their personality. This book shows the stories of such women.