Do people judge women who are childless after a certain age?

[LiliCo334]

What do you think? Just wanted some opinions. In 2026 I still fell like peopel act like if a women never has children then she got no life.

I also get the tilted head of "being a granny is the best" which i am sure it is nice but my god so patronising!

Some people like to sit in judgment of everyone...they don't discriminate.

I have one son, now an adult. When he was young I was asked quite a few times when/if I was going to have more. A couple of times women (always women) commented that single children are often lonely. (he wasn't)

I resorted to telling a couple of people to mind their own business...that always worked.

The thing about conversations is someone may ask someone something or to make a comment and there is nothing in it but the other person can feel they are being judged

So it would depend some people can be being judgemental and some people are just paranoid or have issues with whatever they have going on

i mean asking the question “do you have kids?” And accepting the answer “no” is one thing. But people never accept it. They always think it’s a starting point for negotiation.

I find the ones that judge are the ones with kids.

Women are damned if they do and damned if they don’t. Everything we do is something to be judged in many people’s eyes!

Same as men tbh.

I take it as being part of a conversation same and conversation about jobs, pets, holidays or whatever

Well, it’s not a similar conversation! It’s my personal biology! Not the difference between a week in the Cotswold or the Caribbean.

I've never had kids and never wanted them.
Never felt judged. Wouldn't have cared if people had judged.
Also never experienced people thinking I have no life because I clearly do.

I would and do judge women with no kids - favourably.

Lucky cows!

Came here to say this! Women get judged for everything, so you might as well live your life how you want to!
Judged for not having kids, having them too young, having them too old, having an only child, having too many. Judged on how we parent, how we look, what we do for a job, how we wear our hair or makeup, how we age. We get judged for having too many partners, for being single, for being single mothers (even when the bloke is the one to fuck off)... The list is frigging endless. So, the only real option is to ignore it all and live your life your way!
(PS, I am a Mum and anyone that I know who is child free by choice, I just think good on them, I'm glad they have the freedom to live life as they choose.)

I think there's certain people in society, usually with so many issues of their own, who judge everyone for everything.

Whether it's no children, SAHMs, working mums etc. It says more about them than anyway else and they are usually very unhappy with their lot & try to make themselves feel better by putting others down. It's sad & pathetic really.

Exactly - my mother felt judged for not having grandchildren until recently! Happens at all ages x

I had my DD late in life. My perception was that society gave a shit. However post baby I realise that was in my head.

I couldn’t care less. If someone asks I just tell them the truth, which is that I prefer cats to children 😂

I don’t have kids, I’ve honestly never felt judged.

People sometimes ask if I have kids, I say no, we move on with the conversation.

No stranger has ever actually asked me why, friends & family know it’s because of infertility and failed IVF.

It’s been a few years now and I’ve come to terms with it so I think if anyone did randomly ask why I’d probably tell them the truth, just because that’s the facts but in real life that’s never happened so far, and I’m 48.

Urgh this does my head in. 😆 As I say, my 2 are in their late 20s and left home a decade ago, and I haven't had the 'aren't you a granny' questions yet! But I do have some women I know (my age - mid to late 50s - and some a decade older,) constantly talking about 'the grandkids,' and posting photos of them 3-6 times a week on Facebook! I have had to unfollow a few coz I'm sick of the twee 'being a granny is the best' blurb all over my feed. Some even say they prefer their grandchildren to their own children... Make of that what you will.

My friend (of 30-ish years,) who is a few years younger than me, is normally fine, and I am fond of her ... She has 3 grandchildren, (aged between 1 and 5,) from her 2 DC. They had them in their mid to late 20s.... She has said to me a couple of times, 'better tell your 2 to hurry up! Don't wanna be a knackered old granny LOL!' 😆

I know she doesn't mean anything malicious by it, but I don't want my 2 to have kids much sooner than they want to, just so that I am not a 'knackered old granny!'

They both say they don't want kids now, but may do in 5+ years. There's a possibility they may never have them, and that is OK. My welfare, and happiness is not dependent on having grandchildren!

Also my friend who is only just gone past 50 spends a lot of time looking after her 3 grandchildren! Both of her DC use her as a free babysitter. She is tied down every week with babysitting/childminding, (as well as having to work 22-23 hours a week.) She fits this in at weekends and evenings so she can babysit her 3 grandchildren. LOL, fuck that!

I get you’re being light hearted, but do remember that not everyone who doesn’t have kids wouldn’t have liked to have had them, if circumstances had been different.

So true and yet we are all in this together
I hope in time we will be kinder to each other

No I’ve never experienced anything thinking I have no life due to having no kids either, never something I’ve come across.

Some people need to feel judged no idea why maybe it is like food and water to them

I don't judge but do feel for elderly ladies who appear in our local newspaper obituary column.

E g 95 year old Doris, only daughter of the late Albert and Thomasina, friend to many.

I always wonder if old Doris regretted never marrying and having children, departing this world without anyone to mourn her.

I’ve never ever had this experience, I often get asked if I have kids, I say no, we continue the conversation on different topics, I’ve never come across anyone questioning it further, ever.

No. I don't think people give a shiny shit.