We tell young women and girls that they can be whoever they want to be, that the world is their oyster. But we prevent that from being true, because as a society we are obsessed with women’s’ reproductive status. Emily Monsell-Holden talks about her own journey to becoming a ‘non-mother’, what it’s taught her, and why the way we view women without children urgently needs to change. Emily is a Winchester resident, sister, wild swimmer, brand consultant, forager, friend, actor, wife, home-owner, food lover, wine lover, daughter, fermenter, book reader, cat person, doodler, aunty, walker, chatterbox, thinker, mentor, mentee, Swiss citizen, podcast host, apprentice darner, traveller, story-teller, fan of brass bands, cousin, neighbour. But she is not a mother. That’s what her talk is about.