CHILDFREE: A NEW LIFESTYLE AND CHALLENGE FOR UKRAINIAN SOCIETY

Abstract

The article reveals the concept of “childfree” as a freely chosen lifestyle, which excludes among the followers of the movement the presence of children and the desire to become parents. The definitions of the concepts in relation to the representatives of “childfree”, “child haters” and “childless” are given, and their life position regarding parenthood is also described. It is emphasized that the childfree movement is replenished with new followers around the world, and Ukraine is not an exception in this process. Among Ukrainians, the number of voluntarily childless from year to year only increases. More and more Ukrainians, both women and men, deliberately decide not to become parents, but the exact data are difficult to cite because special studies of this particular phenomenon have not been found. In addition, official statistics on the number of followers of the childfree movement in Ukraine are not yet available. The problem of the family as a source of protection and influence on the formation of family values of Ukrainians and the possible consequences of the influence of the childfree movement on the socio-cultural, moral and demographic spheres in Ukraine are identified. Statistical data on the factors of Ukrainian population decline under the current conditions of risks and uncertainty in Ukraine are covered.