Guess Who: 10 “Childless Cat Ladies” Who Changed the World

Have you ever been asked the question, “When are you having kids?” And perhaps you’ve been asked a follow up question like, “Don’t you want a family of your own?”

Don’t get me wrong - these people mean well. But as a woman without biological children, I’ve often felt these questions imply I’m just wasting time until I have a mini-me running around.

Of course, being a mother is an important job and I admire women who take on that responsibility. But there’s still this outdated idea floating around out there that motherhood is a rule - an unwritten rule that all women are supposed to follow.

It was clear to see these beliefs still existed when the “childless cat lady” stereotype made a comeback tour in 2024.

The “Catty” Comments that Made Headlines

In the lead up to the 2024 U.S. presidential election, past comments by a certain politician went viral.

In a 2021 interview, this charming man referred to some female politicians as "a bunch of childless cat ladies who are miserable at their own lives and the choices that they've made and so they want to make the rest of the country miserable, too.”

Oh, and apparently those of us who haven’t reproduced don’t have a “direct stake” in the country. Silly me! I thought my taxes, voting rights, and general existence counted for something.

Also, didn’t George Washington not have biological children?

Guess Who: “Childless Cat Lady” Edition

Let’s play a little game of “Guess the Childless Cat Lady.”

After we’re done, you be the judge - do these childfree women seem to be lacking a “direct stake” in a better world?

Here are the clues:

Woman #1:

This woman refused to give up her seat, sparking a long overdue movement.

Woman #2:

This “angel” nursed soldiers back to health and founded a little organization you might have heard of… the American Red Cross.

Woman #3:

This woman co-founded the National Woman Suffrage Association and fought tirelessly for a woman’s right to vote.

Woman #4:

This “golden” actress made audiences smile and laugh during her 80+ year career in the entertainment industry.

Woman #5:

This singer-songwriter has won numerous awards for her musical talents and even owns her own amusement park (which many children enjoy each year!)

Woman #6:

This literary icon authored a Pulitzer Prize winning novel that became a staple in American literature. (Hint: The book is about more than just a bird.)

Woman #7:

This painter’s larger than life flowers and colorful desert landscapes revolutionized American modernist art.

Woman #8:

Her book Silent Spring sparked the modern environmentalist movement, which led to the creation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Woman #9:

This trailblazer became the first Black woman to be elected to the United States Congress.

Woman #10:

She was the first American woman in space, proving that the sky is not the limit for women.

The Big Reveal: The “Childless Cat Lady” Hall of Fame

Drumroll, please! Here are the answers:

Woman #1: Rosa Parks

She sat so everyone could stand up for equal rights. She was nicknamed “The Mother of the Freedom Movement”. Ironic, right?

Woman #2: Clara Barton

Saving lives was her passion. Her legacy still lives on, with the American Red Cross providing assistance and disaster relief to this day.

Woman #3: Susan B. Anthony

American parents can thank her activism for their daughters’ right to vote.

Woman #4: Betty White

In addition to her long career, she worked for over 70 years as an animal welfare advocate.

Woman #5: Dolly Parton

And her literacy program, Imagination Library, gives millions of free books to children each year.

Woman #6: Harper Lee

Her 1960 novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, had a significant impact on society. She proved you don’t need to have children to change the world.

Woman #7: Georgia O’Keeffe

Her creativity and art continue to inspire generations of women.

Woman #8: Rachel Carson

Her writings are still relevant today - we still have a lot of work to do to protect our planet.

Woman #9: Shirley Chisholm

She showed us you don’t need to be a mother to fight for the rights of women and children.

Woman #10: Sally Ride

She inspired young girls all around the world by breaking the American glass ceiling of space travel.

The Cat’s Out of the Bag: Being a “Childless Cat Lady” is Anything But Miserable

That’s a pretty inspiring list of women, right? Us “childless cat ladies” are in the company of absolute legends.

We can be world changers and trailblazers. And we definitely don’t need to populate the planet to leave a positive mark on it!