NULLIPARE: RACCONTI DI DONNE TRA MATERNITÀ E MUTAMENTI DELL'IDENTITÀ DI GENERE

Feminine identity has been historically and culturally built around motherhood. However, there are women who in some way choose not to have children. The phenomenon of childlessness is now qualitatively different from the past, seems to be quantitatively increasing and needs to be read in the frame of the ‘culture of choice’. This thesis is a first explorative study on women without children in Italy conducted with a qualitative method. Results of the analysis of 35 life narratives within in-depth interviews with women without children between 35 and 45 years are presented. The thesis analyses all issues and aspects of life related to childlessness, which are held as more relevant by the respondents. This work provides a critical analysis of the concepts of childless, childfree and choice, while offering several ideas for further studies.