DINK (Dual Income, No Kids)

DINK is an acronym for "dual income, no kids," describing a couple of any orientation in which both partners work and they have no children to support. The term gained popularity in the 1980s and has resurfaced on social media, where couples share the financial freedom and flexibility that come with fewer dependents. In LGBTQ+ culture the label has particular resonance, since same-sex couples have historically had higher rates of child-free households, with many directing time and money toward careers, travel, community, or investing. That pattern is shifting as more queer couples build families through adoption, surrogacy, and other paths. DINK is generally used descriptively and without judgment toward people who make different choices about parenthood.