DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT
"From the time that I was a young girl, I knew that I did not want to have children. I was so lucky to grow up in the era of Women’s Liberation and Title IX. For the first time in history, because of access to birth control, a woman could actually choose whether or not she wanted to remain childless.
One in five women are now choosing to not have children. This number has increased by 100% over the last 45 years.
‘MY CHOICE’ is a 45 minute film conversation between five child-free women who are aged mid-40’s to mid-60’s. They discuss the wide ranging reasons that affected their decision and intimately share the consequences of their choice.
Women are increasingly confused about making the choice to have children. Because of a lack of information and thoughtful reflection, women may have children because they are afraid they will regret it later, or because they are being pressured by others. I hope that this film will help to provide another perspective from which women (and men) can make a conscious decision about the most important choice they will ever make.
Through making this film, I have discovered that women really want to talk about this! The film has been a great conversation starter in the theatre after the film and also as women go back out into the world with a new awareness.
Please join us and be a part of the discussion!"
Barbara Bentree - Director
One in five women are now choosing to not have children. This number has increased by 100% over the last 45 years.
‘MY CHOICE’ is a 45 minute film conversation between five child-free women who are aged mid-40’s to mid-60’s. They discuss the wide ranging reasons that affected their decision and intimately share the consequences of their choice.
Women are increasingly confused about making the choice to have children. Because of a lack of information and thoughtful reflection, women may have children because they are afraid they will regret it later, or because they are being pressured by others. I hope that this film will help to provide another perspective from which women (and men) can make a conscious decision about the most important choice they will ever make.
Through making this film, I have discovered that women really want to talk about this! The film has been a great conversation starter in the theatre after the film and also as women go back out into the world with a new awareness.
Please join us and be a part of the discussion!"
Barbara Bentree - Director
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TESTIMONIALS FROM CHRISTINE AND VICTORIA AFTER WATCHING "MY CHOICE" IN SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO |
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QUOTES FROM "MY CHOICE" SCREENING SURVEYS:
HOW DID THIS FILM MAKE YOU FEEL?
“This film raised question after question that I never really rationally thought through in my 20’s.”
“Glad to see the topic discussed and presented so well.”
“Wishing I could have had the freedom to choose myself. I love my daughter yet maybe I would have been a better mother had I actually chosen to have her.”
“Affirmed my choice to not have children.”
“Thoughtful, wanting to talk more with my daughter who has decided not to have children.”
“Fabulous. Love to see it in schools. Very life affirming.”
“Empowered. I am 21 and unsure if I want to have children."
“I’m going to stop pressuring my daughter to give me grandchildren.”
"A lovely film that should be seen by every young woman today.”
"I think it’s great to present this to others so they know it’s OK to not have kids."
“Validates the decision I made 30 years ago.”
"The music in this film keeps it light in heart so it never gets overly dramatic. I'm able to take things in better if there's a balance - there was a nice charm to it all."
“So grateful you made it!”
“Encouraged, especially regarding what women do with that energy for the greater good...”
“Beautifully done! Enlightening to hear...”
“I admire the women interviewed.”
“Glad to see this discussion happening.”
“There should be more discussions.”
“A very thoughtful and thought-provoking presentation.”
"Nobody talked about this! I really appreciate that you have made a film about women who have not had children and don't want to apologize about it. I don't think that perspective has been talked about much in our culture. I feel very grateful to you."
"There are a million other things that you can do with your life but having children is the one that you are expected to do."
“Thank you”
“Keep going and bring some more light on the subject.”
“Please more films like this!”
“Film is excellent. Thank you. Bravo.”
“The important thing that this film does is open the conversation…”
“Enjoyed the film very much. Gave me peace about choosing not to have children.”
"It's important to let young women know they have choices. You see it everywhere... babies having babies."
"If I had seen this film as a kid or young adult, it would have had such a profound impact on me. I really hope you get this film out to young women because they don't even know they can think this. Many of us are looking back on the decision that we made but imagine if you were looking forward into the decision you will make!"
HAVE YOU EVER HAD THIS IDEA PRESENTED TO YOU BEFORE?
72% of viewers said that they had never had this idea presented to them before.
DID YOU FIND THIS FILM TO BE VALUABLE?
98% of viewers found this film to be valuable.
HOW DID THIS FILM MAKE YOU FEEL?
“This film raised question after question that I never really rationally thought through in my 20’s.”
“Glad to see the topic discussed and presented so well.”
“Wishing I could have had the freedom to choose myself. I love my daughter yet maybe I would have been a better mother had I actually chosen to have her.”
“Affirmed my choice to not have children.”
“Thoughtful, wanting to talk more with my daughter who has decided not to have children.”
“Fabulous. Love to see it in schools. Very life affirming.”
“Empowered. I am 21 and unsure if I want to have children."
“I’m going to stop pressuring my daughter to give me grandchildren.”
"A lovely film that should be seen by every young woman today.”
"I think it’s great to present this to others so they know it’s OK to not have kids."
“Validates the decision I made 30 years ago.”
"The music in this film keeps it light in heart so it never gets overly dramatic. I'm able to take things in better if there's a balance - there was a nice charm to it all."
“So grateful you made it!”
“Encouraged, especially regarding what women do with that energy for the greater good...”
“Beautifully done! Enlightening to hear...”
“I admire the women interviewed.”
“Glad to see this discussion happening.”
“There should be more discussions.”
“A very thoughtful and thought-provoking presentation.”
"Nobody talked about this! I really appreciate that you have made a film about women who have not had children and don't want to apologize about it. I don't think that perspective has been talked about much in our culture. I feel very grateful to you."
"There are a million other things that you can do with your life but having children is the one that you are expected to do."
“Thank you”
“Keep going and bring some more light on the subject.”
“Please more films like this!”
“Film is excellent. Thank you. Bravo.”
“The important thing that this film does is open the conversation…”
“Enjoyed the film very much. Gave me peace about choosing not to have children.”
"It's important to let young women know they have choices. You see it everywhere... babies having babies."
"If I had seen this film as a kid or young adult, it would have had such a profound impact on me. I really hope you get this film out to young women because they don't even know they can think this. Many of us are looking back on the decision that we made but imagine if you were looking forward into the decision you will make!"
HAVE YOU EVER HAD THIS IDEA PRESENTED TO YOU BEFORE?
72% of viewers said that they had never had this idea presented to them before.
DID YOU FIND THIS FILM TO BE VALUABLE?
98% of viewers found this film to be valuable.
PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS
PLANNED PARENTHOOD NEW MEXICO
NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR WOMEN - SANTA FE
CENTER FOR SPIRITUAL LIVING
RELIGIOUS COALITION FOR REPRODUCTIVE CHOICE
NEW MEXICO WOMEN IN FILM
ACLU
PLANNED PARENTHOOD NEW MEXICO
NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR WOMEN - SANTA FE
CENTER FOR SPIRITUAL LIVING
RELIGIOUS COALITION FOR REPRODUCTIVE CHOICE
NEW MEXICO WOMEN IN FILM
ACLU