My So-Called Selfish Life (2021)

• 87%
• 2021
• Documentary
• Therese Shechter

Motherhood: a subject so deeply ingrained in the fabric of our society we take it for granted as part of the natural order. It's assumed that all women want children, that motherhood is not only a biological imperative but the defining measure of womanhood. Titled after one of the myths it challenges, this entertaining, inspiring and thought-provoking film draws upon a heady mix of culture, science, and history-revealing the rich and diverse lives of people who said no to children, and the forces that have marginalized them in society. My So-Called Selfish Life asks timely and timeless questions about the cultural narratives that shape our identities: Who's really in control of women's bodies and lives? Why are we bombarded by dire warnings of declining birthrates while also facing unsustainable overpopulation? Is it really unimaginable that a woman might make the choice to not have children?