Family Exist Without Children ? Childfree Choices, Compressed Modernity, and the Negotiation of Kinship among

This study explores the rise of the childfree movement in Indonesia and its implications for family structures and kinship norms, particularly within the context of modernization and individualization. The research seeks to answer key questions about whether the increasing popularity of the childfree choice marks a radical shift away from Indonesia's traditional patriarchal and pronatalist ideologies or represents a selective incorporation of global values into the unique cultural context of the nation. It also investigates how these choices interact with long-standing societal expectations surrounding family life. The study employs a qualitative interpretive approach, using open-ended surveys distributed to Generation Z in Indonesia, with data analyzed through thematic analysis. The main conclusion asserts that the childfree movement in Indonesia is not merely a rejection of traditional family structures but an adaptive response to modernization pressures. While childfree choices challenge traditional notions of marriage and parenthood, they offer an opportunity to reimagine family life within the changing socio-economic landscape. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of family transformation in Southeast Asia, showing how global influences intertwine with local cultural values.