Mobilizing mixed methods to better understand the life paths of childless women
The absence of children in women’s lives is the result of multiple factors related to family, education, marital status and profession, among others. This study demonstrates the value of using mixed methods to explore the multidimensionality of the life paths of childless women. Our approach involves both the sequential analysis of survey data and the qualitative thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with Quebec non-mothers born between 1947 and 1956. This methodological strategy leads to a comprehensive typology of four different life paths, each with its own combination of academic, marital and professional trajectories.