In the US JD Vance’s criticism of prominent Democrats as miserable ‘childless cat ladies’ sparked outrage among many women with many now reclaiming the sexist ‘cat lady’ stereotype as a call to action trope as a call to action this election season.
Cat-lover and megastar Taylor Swift recently proclaimed her support on Instagram for Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 Presidential Election – signing the post: ‘With Love and Hope, Taylor Swift, Childless Cat Lady’.
Aoife and Connie Sloan live in Belfast and have been married for four years.
Aoife works in insurance and Connie is a nurse working in education.
They have seven cats: Herbie, Maud, Nell, Mick, Marianne, Sybil and Sinead.
Are you Swifties?
Connie, yes. Aoife, no.
Have you encountered negativity because of your child free/ childless status?
People sometimes infantilise our relationship and assume that because we don’t want children we are ‘playing house’ and our marriage isn’t as serious as their marriage (not sure if this is a gay woman thing or a child free thing).
We get the usual silly remark ‘You’d understand if you had children’ – as if emotional intelligence is tied to how much you’ve reproduced.
What do you think of the ‘childless cat lady’ trope and how it’s being turned on its head?
The concept is steeped in misogyny. The contempt and derision directed at us is really, at the crux of it, about the fact that we are exercising a choice that some people (mostly men) don’t agree with.
The perception that it is selfish to prioritise yourself is an outdated one but it continues to linger around women’s bodily autonomy.
JD Vance’s ‘childless cat ladies who are miserable at their own lives’ narrative is being challenged by many women – the idea of femininity being tied to motherhood just doesn’t stand up. Successful, happy ‘childless cat ladies’ just existing is a challenge to the capitalist patriarchy.
Being childless cat ladies is portrayed as a negative ‘lesser than’ lifestyle but there is power in choosing what you want your life to look like. The othering of women into different categories is a societal tool of division that doesn’t serve any women at all.
What do you think of the current status of women in the USA, in Ireland and globally?
You only have to look at the faux outrage directed at trans women to see how a dangerous online narrative has seeped into politics globally.
The rights and existence of a marginalised minority group are being eroded, and again, a lot of it is driven by patriarchal society’s idea of what a woman should be.
There are loads of incredibly capable women in politics and those who are actively working to make things better, but those aren’t the voices that are being amplified online and in the media, the noise of the far right is drowning out the true representation.
What do the childless cat ladies need to do to change the status quo?
Be visible! We would have loved to have read about two married childless women with cats in the paper when we were young.
Caroline Quinn is the co-owner of Dirty Fabulous Vintage.
She lives in Co. Monaghan and has four cats: ︎Mr Fluffypants, siblings Bear and Tiger and Beansprout.
Are you a Swiftie?
I’m a loud and proud Swiftie since being gifted Taylor Swift’s 2010 album Speak Now.
Have you encountered negativity because of your child free/ childless status?
︎Women inherently understand ‘My body, My choice’ and have always been supportive. The only negative experiences I’ve had regarding my choice have been with men and there have been some (unprintable) gems.
What do you think of the ‘childless cat lady’ trope and how it’s being turned on its head?
︎The childless cat lady trope is just this week’s clumsy and desperate hammer to keep women down and in ‘our place’ by ageing misogynistic dinosaurs (no offence to actual dinosaurs intended).
What do you love most about being a ‘childless cat lady’?
︎As a childless cat lady, I have way more free time, less stress, endless cuddles and entertainment and I’ll live longer – so I’ve heard!
As endorsed by Taylor Swift, what’s your opinion of Kamala Harris?
︎I hope Kamala wins because the alternative is unimaginable but I would like to hear a more committed pledge to stop arming violators of human rights.
Gemma Sherlock lives in Co Cavan and is currently studying to become a graphic designer.
She has four of her own ‘official cats’, Teddy, Toby, Jorge, Teenie Weenie and Fifi Trixibelle, and is currently looking after several other rescue cats, including Mangey Puss, Itsy Bitsy, Willa, Louie, Winnie and Velvet.
While she’s not a big fan of Taylor Swift’s music she says that she does admire everything the star has achieved in her career thus far.
Child free or childless – have you encountered negativity because of your child free/ childless status?
I am child free by choice. I’ve never had a yearning for children. When I was younger, people were surprised by this.
I’ve been told numerous times since then by women and men alike that I’ll ‘change my mind’ in the future, but it’s well into the future now and I haven’t changed my mind, so I guess the moral of the story is that a woman knows her own mind.
What do you think of the ‘childless cat lady’ trope and how it’s being turned on its head?
I’m loving it. It’s about time because there’s nothing sad or lonely about being a childless cat lady (the origins of which are rooted in patriarchal misogyny).
Society is finally beginning to accept (albeit slowly) that women may have a purpose beyond childbirth, motherhood and general unpaid labour in the home.
There’s a perception that women who don’t have children by choice are somehow cold and selfish but this simply isn’t the case.
I choose to channel my emotional energy into giving animals a better life. You’d be hard pressed to meet a more kind, compassionate and caring person than a childless cat lady.
What do you think of the current status of women in the USA, in Ireland and globally?
I think despite the progression of women in some areas and domination in others our biggest threats remain the patriarchy and its misogynist systems.
I’ve honestly been horrified by recent news – Gisele Pelicot’s horrendous experience of being drugged and raped by her husband and other men; Kristina Joksimovic, strangled by her husband, dismembered and put in a blender to try to conceal evidence; Rebecca Cheptegei, murdered by her ex-boyfriend who set her on fire; Carol, Hannah and Louise Hunt, murdered by Louise Hunt’s ex-boyfriend.
Locally Natasha O’Brien beaten unconscious by Cathal Crotty and getting a suspended sentence from a male judge. I could go on but it’s too depressing.
Men showing up for women is long overdue. We need to see them actively do something about the behaviour of their peers. Be an ally – call out misogynistic behaviour amongst your friends. Stand up for your mother, sister, daughter, aunt, granny, friend because this could happen to any of them.
Catherine Condell is one of Ireland’s most sought-after fashion stylists and show producers.
She lives in Dublin and has two cats named Malachi and Mouse.
Condell is a self-declared Swiftie and enjoys the theatre and cinema in her spare time.
Child free or childless – have you encountered negativity because of your child free/ childless status?
Having children was never on my agenda – I’m always happy to be able to hand them back to respective friends and family. Thankfully I’ve never had any sort of negativity towards my chosen status.
What do you think of the ‘childless cat lady’ trope and how it’s being turned on its head?
The ‘trope’ was delivered by a complete idiot and I love the reaction to it by said ‘Childless Cat Ladies’.
Don’t mess with us JD Vance. Don’t dare mess with us. And I, for one, am certainly not ‘miserable’.
What do you love most about being a childless cat lady?
I love the serene peace and contentment that my cats bring. I love their different personalities, their hilarious hijinks, their daily routines and habits, and the utter joy they bring to my life.
I’m never happier than when I’m safe at home with my cats and I couldn’t love them more.
What do you think of Kamala Harris?
I like her intelligence and her confidence. She has such fantastic experience and qualifications that I would hope that she has the ability to steer the US to some form of sanity and goodness.
I’m not convinced about all of her politics but we’ll just have to have to wait and see. I really hope she becomes President of the US.
What do you think of the current status of women in the USA, in Ireland and globally?
Women have always had to deal with male dominated politics and businesses but generally I think women are making their mark worldwide.
I don’t think they are regressing but rather quietly trying to make the world a better place without all the male bravado and bullying.
What do the childless cat ladies need to do to change the status quo?
Like a cat, I think they should keep their cool and not overreact, maybe roll their eyes at the idiotic statement safe in the knowledge that they usually know best. Then Purrrrrrrrr!