Jennifer Watling Neal

Jennifer Watling Neal, psychology professor studying childfree adults; Zachary Neal, psychology professor researching fertility trends; Nandita Bajaj, reproductive-choice advocate and population scholar. They debunk pronatalist claims, define childfree versus involuntary childlessness, examine why people opt out of parenting, analyze fertility declines and contraception’s role, and discuss population, policy, and reproductive rights.

Jennifer Watling Neal, a researcher at Michigan State University, discusses why 1 in 5 adults are choosing to be child-free in the U.S., the stigma they face, the impact of legal rulings on their identification, and the satisfaction levels of child-free adults compared to parents in neighborhoods. The podcast also explores the need for inclusive policies for both parents and child-free individuals worldwide.