The Disturbing Reason Why Black Childfree Women Are Called Aunties

“The auntie label is innocently imposed on childfree and childless black women to keep them attached to a community that demands their money, time, labor, and youth as investments that do not solely benefit them.”

For many years I have witnessed many childfree (and childless) black women calling themselves aunties. And it always made me cringe, but for a long time I couldn’t pinpoint why until now.

Before I begin, I want to explain the difference between childfree and childless women. Childfree women, like myself, are sworn to never birth or raise children in this lifetime. We are grounded in our decision to never become mothers for many different reasons. Childless women, on the other hand, desire children but don’t have them yet. Their decision to wait is usually a strategic one, as they are waiting to find the right partner or they plan on starting a family once they make more money, have more educational accomplishments under their belt, buy a home, or travel extensively, amongst other reasons. Or they simply aren’t ready yet.

Women who are on the fence about motherhood can also be considered childless rather than childfree. Women who want children but cannot have them are also childless, not childfree. Being childfree is a lifelong personal conviction that cannot be taken away…