The Audio Long Read ‘Do you have a family?’: midlife with no kids, ageing parents – and no crisis
6 snips
Jul 7, 2025 Jennifer J Kim reads a poignant essay by E. Tammy Kim, exploring life in midlife without children and the challenges of caring for aging parents. The discussion touches on cultural rituals in South Korea that reshape identity and belonging. Jennifer reflects on personal experiences of societal pressures related to motherhood and beauty standards. Themes of familial bonds emerge, highlighting the emotional complexities surrounding legacy and shared history, resonating deeply with listeners navigating similar life stages.
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Family Graves Disinterred
- The family disinterred the grandparents' remains for cremation in South Korea.
- The event was uncomfortable, mixing reverence with the surreal experience of handling bones.
Family Means More Than Children
- "Family" often narrowly means children, excluding aging parents or chosen families.
- Midlife for many childless people focuses on caregiving for aging parents, not raising kids.
Understanding South Korea's 4B Movement
- The South Korean 4B movement rejects marriage, reproduction, dating, and sex.
- It emerged from feminist roots but faced backlash with political shifts in Korea and briefly intrigued U.S. audiences.
