Parenthood Optional
Soapstone
S- Daum speaks from the misrepresented perspective of a middle aged woman not seeking to have a child. She doesn't just speak from this view though. She also speaks from a person outside the situation to offer both sides of the conversation. O- Larger Occasion: Small debates about if choosing to be childless was selfish or not. Immediate Occasion: Her personal preference to not bear children and Time Magazine's cover story, "The Childless Life: When having it all means not having children." A- Daum is directing this towards people who are talking about the childless women but not understanding their views. This will be women and men probably in their 30s and early 40s. P- The purpose is to spark up a serious conversation about childless lifestyles. It's intent is not to refute the idea but to stand up for those who choose this lifestyle because it is what they feel needs to be done in their life. S- The subject is about how parenthood should be optional. Tone- By stepping outside the situation and talking from a neutral view during some of the article, the author shows a didactic tone. She is also trying to show an earnest mindset when she gives incite to her personal life and talks about the emotional toll it has on her relationship with her husband. |
Purpose
The author's main purpose is to show the other side of the childless lifestyle debate. She clears the stereotypical and selfish reasons for not wanting children and gives readers the knowledge of a side that is not commonly heard. Though this knowledge is based off of her personal life, she attempts to become a childless lifestyle spokesperson. Daum's use of pathos made the audience feel heartbroken when she explained that her husband, though wanting kids, had to accept that she did not. She tells us that she can feel his pain every time they talk about it and it also makes her gloomy. Daum also displays what a childless person could do to impact lives through children without having them. She uses that as an example of how childless adults can be useful and necessary in the grand scheme of childbearing life. |