National Organization for Non-Parents
From ChildfreeWiki
The National Organization for Non-Parents (NON) was formed in 1972. A non-profit organization, it operated for ten years, changing name to the National Alliance for Optional Parenthood (NAOP) in 1978.
Its stated purposes were to educate the public on non-parenthood as a valid lifestyle option, support those who choose not to have children, promote awareness of the overpopulation problem, and assist other groups that advanced the goals of the organization.
It advocated having no children (or no more than one child) and not having children at all before the age of twenty-one.
Local organizations or chapters could be established wherever there were ten or more members of the national organisation. Groups of lesser numbers were given affiliate status. The local chapters functioned as a support group for non-parents; meetings typically featured a speaker or were social gatherings. [1]
Member's reasons for not having children included:
- having children reduces your ability to do what you want when you want to do it,
- caring for a child is a heavy responsibility,
- having children intrudes on the relationship with your spouse,
- spouse does not want children, and
- having children is financially expensive.
Membership in N.A.O.P. was open to married and single individuals, both parents and non-parents alike. An estimated 69% were married, 6% divorced, 16% single, with 49% self-identified athiest or agnostic.
Average age of members was late 20's - early 30's, disproportionately concentrated in higher education and income categories. Typically, the decision to remain childfree was made anywhere from age 10 to age 32, with females more likely to have decided at an earlier age. [2]
[edit] Agenda
Adopting a slogan of "None is fun", NON celebrated a Non-Mother's Day and a Non-Father's Day on which favourite nonparents were offered flowers and cigars.
There were also annual awards, naming various famous people as Child-Free Couples of the year or as Single Man and Single Woman of the Year.[3]
NON published a newsletter, Non-Sense, which advocated childlessness as a way of creating "social space"... a combination of time, money and energy that can be used to conserve planetary resources, beat the high cost of living and free husbands and wives for political activism and the pursuit of free lifestyles.[4]
The national organization disbanded in 1982 due to financial difficulties. The same or similar ideals were later adopted by groups such as the California-based Childfree Network.
[edit] See also
- Childfree Network (1992-1998)
- No Kidding! (1984-)
[edit] References
- ↑ "National Alliance for Optional Parenthood, Toledo Area Chapter/Affiliate (Ohio) MS-373", BGSU Centre for Archival Collections, September 1984. Retrieved on 2007-1-17.
- ↑ "A study of the membership of the National Organization for Non-Parents.", PubMed, July 23, 2000. Retrieved on 2007-1-17.
- ↑ "Time magazine", May 22, 1972. Retrieved on 2007-1-17.
- ↑ "Down with Kids", Time, July 3, 1972. Retrieved on 2007-1-17.
