Zoe Noble, Founder, We Are Childfree
Who is a woman, beyond the societal contours that have sculpted her existence? For centuries, womanhood and motherhood have been seen as inseparable, creating a narrative that a woman’s true essence lies solely in embracing the role of a mother. However, today, more women are challenging this age-old view, questioning if having children is truly the only path to fulfillment. This shift in perspective is not about rejecting the idea of motherhood; rather, it’s about recognizing that a woman’s worth extends beyond the roles that society has prescribed for her. Rather than being confined to societal norms, today women are asking themselves if they actually want to have children and looking at alternatives.
Many women today are opting for a child-free life, a choice that is as valid and meaningful as choosing to become a mother. Yet, this newfound freedom of choice is often met with a barrage of judgment, criticism, and a lack of respect. Society, so accustomed to the traditional narrative, struggles to comprehend and accept the diversity of choices that women are now courageously making. We’ve all heard the negative stereotypes about childfree people, especially women – that they are selfish, immature, or somehow incomplete. Dedicated to dismantling these false narratives, Zoë Noble, an English beauty and still-life photographer, retoucher, and educator stands as a staunch advocate for women’s empowerment and changing the narrative around childfree living. Zoe, a photographer, designer, and educator, alongside her husband James, a writer, editor, and community manager, is on a global journey to share their stories and create a community that supports those opting for a child-free lifestyle. According to Zoe, every childfree person deserves to feel seen, heard, and connected to the community.
Breaking the Mold: A Personal Journey
Zoe’s journey began with a realization – she didn’t want children. This personal decision led her to feel isolated and judged, not just by strangers but even by people close to her. She felt that her choice was met with raised eyebrows, whispered criticisms, and at times a lack of respect, having doctors tell her that she would change her mind or reject her request to have procedures that would affect her ability to have children. Even when facing medical issues like fibroids, she wasn’t allowed to have a hysterectomy, because the doctor’s priority was her fertility even though she had clearly expressed her decision not to have children. This is when she realized she couldn’t be the only one experiencing this emotional solitude, there must be other women out there grappling with a similar sense of loneliness and societal judgment.
Wanting to connect with other women in her situation, Zoë set up her home studio and started shooting a portrait series that she named “We Are Childfree”. She spoke with these women, asking about their decisions and what life looked like after deciding not to become mothers. “I knew that if I could shine the light and maybe put a face to the people who were making this choice it would destigmatize it and just make people not feel so alone. I had a camera and I felt like I could do something about it, opines Zoe.
She goes on to add, “We’re told as women that our goal in life is to have children. And when you don’t want that, you are abnormal, and you’re broken. So, putting a face to this movement is showing people that there is no one way to be childfree like there’s no one way to be a woman.” Through her lens and storytelling platform, she aims to dismantle the stereotypes surrounding child-free women.
From Personal Project to Global Movement
What began as Zoë’s personal portrait project has blossomed into a global movement. “We Are Childfree” is no longer just about photos; it’s a worldwide community, a grassroots movement on a mission to break down the stigma around choosing not to have children. It has transformed into a global platform where women from every corner of the world come together to share their stories, experiences, and support for those embracing a child-free life. Zoë explains, “I asked each woman to choose a location that represents them, that feels most like their personality, and just photographed women all around the city and spoke to women all around the world. And the response was incredible.”
The impact of “We Are Childfree” reached new heights when The New York Times featured the project in April last year. This exposure catapulted it into the global spotlight, and since then, Zoë has been receiving emails from all corners of the world, including China, Kenya, Australia, and beyond, expressing gratitude for the newfound representation. The project has become a source of connection for people worldwide who feel seen and heard for the first time. It goes beyond dispelling myths and stereotypes, advocating for equality, bodily autonomy, and the empowerment to make personal choices, aiming to create a world where everyone is free to define their fulfilling life.
Celebrating Child-Free Lives, One Story at A Time
In a world where societal norms often pigeonhole women into predefined roles, “We Are Childfree” stands as a beacon, offering a global space for anyone embracing a child-free life, regardless of their reasons. A lot of the women who reach out to Zoë with their stories have their own unique reasons for choosing not to have children. For some, it’s the lack of societal support for mothers; for others, it is a political or environmental issue. But for many, it is simply a personal choice about the kind of lifestyle they want for themselves.
“We Are Childfree” believes in everyone’s right to create a life that’s fulfilling to them, and offers a safe space for compassionate conversations about conscious choices. Through this life-changing work, it is committed to fighting stereotypes and strict gender roles; creating a world in which everyone enjoys equality, and bodily autonomy, and is empowered to make their own choices, to live authentically.