I don't want children -- stop telling me I'll change my mind | Christen Reighter

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Published 2017-12-07
One in five women in the United States will not have a biological child, and Christen Reighter is one of them. From a young age, she knew she didn't kids, in spite of the insistence of many people (including her doctor) who told her she'd change her mind. In this powerful talk, she shares her story of seeking sterilization -- and makes the case that motherhood is an extension of womanhood, not the definition.

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All Comments (21)
  • @Jcon4002
    Sad how society cares more about you having kids rather than taking care of kids.
  • @squippites7356
    I hate the question “who’s going to take care of me when you’re older?” Because the children aren’t your maids for the rest of your life after they go to college.
  • You can’t be selfish to something that doesn’t exist. No woman is obligated to procreate.
  • Look, children, by virtue of their innocence, deserve to be raised by people who actually WANT to raise them. Never let anyone shame you for not wanting kids because not wanting kids is a perfectly good reason not to have them.
  • @cryss7819
    "The truth is, I'd only removed a single path to Parenthood. I never needed biology to form a family anyway" The wisest words I've ever heard tbh
  • I want kids. I want to be a mom. She does not want kids. She does not want to be a mom. Nobody fights me on my opinion but she has to validate hers to anyone who asks her to. I’m glad she made this talk.
  • I'm 84 years old. Never had children. Never wanted any. Never changed my mind. Sure glad I never had any.
  • @Socket_Wrench
    I don't think I'll ever be able to fathom how such a simple and harmless decision as not having children sparked so much controversy and debate
  • @miacmiacmia
    When you say “I don’t want children” most people say “you say that now, you will regret it later” but no one says the same about having a child, THAT is a choice that will change your life completely
  • I’ve gotten the comment from my own family of “Oh, just wait until you find the right man.” I’m sorry, but last time I checked the “right man” wouldn’t force me to do anything I don’t want to.
  • @TaurielTheElf
    Every time someone tells me "You'll change your mind later" I always hit them with the good ol' "Would you change your mind about having children?"
  • I sometimes casually (in form of humor) let my parents know that I don't want biological children in the future. And they always hit me with "who would take care of you when you're older?" Which is so wrong in so many levels. Children are not just retirement plans.
  • @Rainjojo
    Abusive parents: abuses the people they hope will take care of them when they’re old People: this is fine Me: I don’t want kids because i wouldn’t want another person to feel pain People: YOURE SELFISH
  • People have children for selfish reasons all the time. No one harasses them about their choice.
  • I always tell ppl, I'd rather regret not having kids than regret having kids.
  • @lagoonbeach741
    I’ll never forget a conversation I had with another female who ultimately looked down on me for not “embracing the gift of life” after stating I never wanted children. It’s not selfish. Us women who don’t want to bare children don’t owe society anything. If we don’t want to be parents, that’s OUR decision.
  • @Whatda25
    I was born "unplanned" as I found out at the age of 40. Explained a lot why I was never loved by my father. Every day I experienced his negativity, depression and criticism toward me. Never wanted children....
  • @lucyhannah1227
    Imagine if a man went to get a vasectomy and had to go through stages of hearing women doctors telling him he's a little boy and 'what would his wife think' ....yikes