Důvody, motivy a okolnosti bezdětnosti mužů
The reasons, motives and circumstances surrounding male childlessness

Summary/Abstract: The topic of childlessness in the Czech environment has not yet been sufficiently mapped from the perspective of lived experiences and the reflection of these experiences by men themselves. The text therefore asks how men emphasize their childlessness, i.e. how they experience and interpret it in terms of their motivations, preferences and choices as well as conditions and circumstances of their lives. The analysis is based on problem-centred interviews conducted with 12 childless men of different ages and education, when with seven of them repeated interviews were conducted. A total of 19 interviews were analyzed in accordance with the thematic analysis principles. The analysis showed the diversity of perspectives and attitudes of men towards parenthood and childlessness, which is influenced both by their age (i.e. different intergenerational experience and different perspectives in their life course), and especially by their socioeconomic position in society. It also identified „white“ spots − missing topics within the narratives of male childlessness and confirmed the persistence of the double standard for women and men on childlessness that men themselves re/produce by their narratives. Based on the findings we can discuss the question of what social policy measures could support fathering.

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