Voluntarily childfree women in the Philippines: An interpretative phenomenological analysis

• Main Authors: Alon, Katherine O., Lecaros, Miguel Constantino R., Leynes, Kevin G.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2014
• Subjects: Psychology
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_bachelors/18093
• Institution: De La Salle University

The goal of the study is to gain an understanding about the lived experiences of voluntarily childfree women in the Philippines and the events that lead to their decision not to have children despite being capable to do so. Three women who have identified themselves as being voluntarily childfree were interviewed and each interview was transcribed. The researchers made use of Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis in order to give meaning to the experiences of these women that chose to be voluntarily childfree. The data gathered was subjected to coding which was the basis for developing the themes and categories of the study. Four core categories (Significant Supporting Factors, Challenges that Question the Firmness of their Decision, Essence of Motherhood, and The Outcome of Living with a Decision) were established after analyzing the gathered data from the participants. The study sheds light on the phenomenon of being voluntary childfree and their experiences that lead to their decision not to have children.