Childless

Documentary on Newstalk

Documentary On Newstalk presents - "Childless" a new documentary by producer Hilary Fennell. "It’s hard to imagine that there remains a subject so taboo that although shared by one in five women over 45, it is never discussed. That subject is being childless, but not by choice." - Hilary Fennell, programme maker and journalist is one of a growing number of such women in Ireland. In this documentary she explores what it means to be childless in a child-centred society and breaks the taboo of ‘social infertility’ by hearing the stories of six women. "The thing that infuriates me most are the ‘bingo’ comments: ‘Why don’t you just adopt? Why not buy sperm? Why not use a surrogate?’ As if it was that simple,’ comments psychotherapist Jody Day." Presenter Hilary delves into the emotional, physical and social impact of childlessness and why she feels it is such a huge taboo. "All the media wants is the happy-ending-miracle-twin IVF stories, or the women who are childless by choice. Nobody ever talks about the years of baby-mania - hormone testing kits, invasive treatments, crazy diets, acupuncture, herbal remedies, reiki healing, you name it. All, for nothing,’ says children’s mental health support worker and a solution-based hypnotherapist Jemma White. Sensitive but probing, with interviews recorded on location in the subjects’ homes aided by creative soundscapes and a contemporary score by Daragh Dukes. "Childless" was funded by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland with the Television Licence Fee.