Men and women that are childfree by choice are judged more harshly than say a couple who can't have kids

I've seen it in TV shows, movies, ads etc. A couple who can't have kids are praised and admired for adopting a child and showered with sympathy and support when they announce they can't have kids. But should the same couple say they just don't want kids, they're judged- especially the woman. <br><br>Example: Julia Roberts starred in a film where she plays a woman who can't have kids. So she adopts. That's great, but had she said "I just don't want to have kids" would she have been met with the same admiration and sympathy? No.<br><br>Another example: a couple I know personally are having trouble conceiving. Everyone around them has showered them with all sorts of sympathy and support, and when they adopted everyone was so proud of them. But had they said they just didn't want kids, they'd have been judged constantly. I know this because the woman has said she doesn't want to be a mother but this was met with horror and disgust, but as soon as she was diagnosed infertile, they were met with sympathy and then admiration when they adopted. <br><br>Another example: I once had a therapist whose sister was infertile, so she adopted a kid from overseas. Everyone around her was so proud of her, and I remember my therapist saying her sister was a hero for doing it, and she was inspiring, etc. But when I said I didn't want kids, I was told parents who can't have kids are heroes and I should think about how I'd feel if I couldn't have kids and how sad I would be and how I should consider changing my mind since I was taking my fertility for granted. <br>The double standard is frustrating.