In 2025, societal pressure to procreate continues, impacting individuals who prefer not to have children. Alyson Stoner, a former child star, emphasizes the importance of normalizing a child-free choice. At 20, Stoner expressed feelings of being "broken" for not desiring children. In a TikTok video, they read a diary excerpt reflecting on societal messages suggesting parenthood as life's highest purpose. Stoner now seeks to forge a life path aligned with personal desires after deconstructing cultural expectations around parenting.
I never once grew up desiring or picturing myself having kids. I do not desire to bear children from my body at all. This is a diary entry on worrying about not wanting children.
Sometimes I feel broken for not wanting children, as if I have some sort of biological defect for not wanting to propagate the species.
It's hard to read this. Because I know all of the messages I was receiving at that time was that having kids is life's highest purpose.
After I've deconstructed some of these cultural myths, now I'm in this space where I get to more consciously design a path that feels true to who I feel like I am.
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