Abstract:

According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the number of women without children aged 40-45 has risen sharply in recent years. Other studies show that, on average, one in five women reach the age of 45 without children. Of these, only 10% are childfree, 10% are infertile and 80% are childless by circumstance. There is no statistics about men. Research shows that childlessness is one of the most ignored and deeply personal topics that is not recognized and is hidden in society.

While employers have given some attention to issues related to the intersection of parenthood status and work-life, there are still aspects of this intersection that are fairly ignored. Despite the fact that issues of diversity and inclusion are becoming more important the topic of childlessness in Latvia still faces various obstacles and is an awareness issue at workplace. The purpose of this paper is to summarize terminology of childlessness to raise awareness about this issue for the workplace inclusion in education.

Author of this article has chosen the integrative review method including publications which were published in respectable databases (EbscoHost, Scopus, Science Direct, Emerald Publishing, Elsevier, Sage Journals) during the past ten years. As mentioned in previous articles of authors’ research, organisations should improve their workplace policies and work-life programs with trainings for enhancement of diversity and inclusion issues to all staff levels, age groups and educational background. Education as an essential part of workplace sector is no exception.

The results of this article shows concepts about childlessness used internationally such as “childless not by choice”, “childless by circumstance”, “voluntary childless” or “involuntary childless”, also “childless by choice” or “childfree”. Findings also include main awareness issues and some examples of inclusion aspects in workplace such as guidelines for staff members.

Keywords:

Childlessness, workplace inclusion, education, terminology, awareness issue.