Women without children you admire?

[JorisBonson]

Just been bellylaughing at a Kathy Burke podcast and remembered how much I love her. She's gone through life being unashamedly herself and not taking a jot of interest in societal norms. I loved her Channel 4 doc about being a woman.

Also Beth Stern, Howard Stern's wife, who devotes herself to rescuing and rehoming animals.

'It's particularly interesting to read about women I admire and also have something significant in common with'

Same here. And I actually do admire women for not having children. I know for some it's a very straightforward decision, but I know from personal experience that it can involve an enormous amount of soul searching, hard work on yourself and sticking to your guns, and I think that all of that is admirable

Couldn't agree more that Jennifer Aniston's dignity has been incredible. Same for Kylie. Endless talent, and beauty, and charisma and fame - nope, not enough. All meaningless without a baby apparently 🙄

Betty Boothroyd.

Ah, of course Louisa May Alcott and Susan Coolidge.

I’m loving this thread and discovering and remembering other childfree women!

Re Louisa May Alcott I read an online essay many years ago which worked on the theory that she was gay - in one interview she wondered whether she had half a man’s souls as she was always falling in love with pretty girls but never with men.
Quite a bold statement for the time!

Dolly P for this quote alone: "it costs a lot of money to look this cheap!"

Amelia Earhart.

Lina Wertmuller. film director.

Grace Hopper, mathematician and computer scientist.

Katharine Hepburn.

Frida Kahlo.

Zaha Hadid, architect.

Dolly and Kylie for me. Both just beautiful souls, and the fact that they’re gay icons just makes me love them more.

Helen Mirren, too, because she takes no shit on the subject.

Oh, and Sarah Paulson!

Nicola Sturgeon had talked about having a miscarriage so not sure she's child free by choice.

Dame Kelly Holmes
Deborah Meaden

the main character of the first three books, Katy, was married but without children by the end of the last book in the saga

I didn't know there were other Katy books! the last one I have is when she meets her future husband. Thanks for that, will go on a search.

Several of my child free friends. I admire them for kicking against social norms and owning it!
There are lots of CF women in politics, unsurprisingly.

My sister. She wanted kids but it didn't happen.

She is a social worker specialising in child protection and is often told that she can't possibly do her job properly because she isn't a mother so doesn't understand.

I admire her grace and dignity in the face of comments such as the above, and others around how she doesn't understand love, doesn't know what to do with children and shouldn't be in her job. Where I would tell people to fuck off, she merely shrugs and doesn't let their immaturity and pettiness affect her.

She is the kindest aunt to my two and their very special person to confide in. She is also a fabulous role model for my daughter who is now coming to terms with being infertile following years of an eating disorder.

Her work is her passion and vocation. And due to her intervention at the right time, there are over 100 children out there who are alive and doing well today after being born into the most horrendous, abusive conditions.

'She is a social worker specialising in child protection and is often told that she can't possibly do her job properly because she isn't a mother so doesn't understand.'

I used to work in child protection too and I think there's an argument that being childfree is an asset, as you're maybe able to be more objective and clear headed that a parent might be. It can be very bloody hurtful having your childfree status thrown in your face, but somewhat comforting to know that they're only doing it because that's all they've got to throw at you. Good for your sister, she sounds brilliant, and a far more impressive person than parents who honestly don't give a shit about any kids except their own

Delia Smith - felt she would never be a good parent. She has said that ‘somebody who shall be nameless’ told her she ‘didn’t know how to feed children’ because she isn’t a parent herself.
‘Not at all, my cookery course was in the school curriculum,’ she responded.

I survived my student years thanks to Delia...

She has said that ‘somebody who shall be nameless’ told her she ‘didn’t know how to feed children’ because she isn’t a parent herself

I've always wondered how this 'you don't know how to do x for children because you're not a parent' comes about. It's not as if the sprogs come with a instruction leaflet and parents are instantly experts, is it?

'Clover' is the next book and 'In the High Valley' is the last one. 'Clover' includes Katy's wedding but then the focus moves to Clover for the rest of that book and the last one. There's a Kindle edition including all 5 books plus a short story about Johnnie Carr.

I found 'Clover' on Gutenberg and read a couple of chapters. How did I not know this book existed??

I discovered them looking for Antonia Forest reprints by 'Girls Gone By' publishers, MrsDanvers (they publish lots of previously out of print girls' fiction and Chalet School fill-ins).

I was going to say kylie! I mean she's done her thing and been through breast cancer

But all of the suggestions on here are great.

I do often wonder what I would've done and been without my kids 😬 ( I do love them but... what If )

After reading through properly I admire all of these women , and didn't know they decided one way or another to not have children.

The question is: why are we asking this ? Surely all women of note and otherwise are worthy of recognition and esteem?