Childfree, an Existentialist Feminist Perspective: A Critical Discourse Analysis of Youtube Cretivox Content 'Mending Punya Anak Atau Tidak Punya Anak???’

Abstract

This research explores the phenomenon of Childfree as a life choice, particularly within the context of the 21st century. Despite the increasing number of women opting to live without children voluntarily, society often perceives this choice as a deviation from women's inherent nature. The objective of this research is to examine how the childfree discourse is portrayed in Cretivox's YouTube content titled "Mending Punya Anak Atau Tidak Punya Anak???" (Is it better to have children or not to have children???) from an existentialist feminist perspective. To achieve this goal, the research employs Norman Fairclough's critical discourse analysis model within a qualitative descriptive approach. The findings of the research reveal that Cretivox frames the childfree issue as an individual's life choice deserving respect within the private sphere, free from judgment. The producer, Cretivox, advocates for childfree content as a means to counteract the social stigma associated with choosing not to have children. This aligns with the existentialist feminist viewpoint of Simone de Beauvoir, emphasizing that women's destinies should not be dictated by biological factors, and they should maintain control over their bodies.