Extended Abstract

Introduction

Childbearing, as one of the most fundamental components of demography, plays a key role in the dynamics and continuity of the generation. In Iran, the declining fertility trend has fallen below replacement level over the past two decades and has raised widespread concerns among policymakers and experts. This decline not only threatens the age structure of the population and the future of the workforce, but is also linked to widespread cultural, economic, and social changes. Although economic factors and demographic policies have been examined many times, what has received less attention is women's lived experience in childbearing; an experience that takes shape in large cities such as Tehran at the intersection of tradition and modernity. Today's women face a set of social pressures, cultural expectations, economic constraints, and at the same time personal and career aspirations. Thus, childbearing has transformed from a biological or religious obligation into a conscious and multi-layered decision. Within this framework, the present study, with a phenomenological approach and a focus on content analysis, seeks a deeper understanding of the meaning of childbearing in the lives of Tehrani women.

Methodology and Data

This study was conducted with a qualitative approach and based on the phenomenological method. Data were collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews with 35 Tehrani women who were selected through purposive sampling. Inclusion criteria included residing in Tehran for at least ten years, having experience related to childbearing (whether having children, infertility, or consciously delaying childbearing), and willingness to tell a personal narrative. Interviews lasted between 45 and 70 minutes and were recorded with the participants' consent and then fully transcribed. For data analysis, Brown and Clark's (2006) six-step model was used, which includes familiarizing with the data, generating initial codes, searching and reviewing themes, defining and naming them, and finally writing an analytical report. In order to increase the validity of the research, Lincoln and Guba's (1985) criteria including validity, transferability, reliability, and confirmability were used. The diversity of age, education, and occupation of the participants allowed for the representation of a wide range of attitudes.

Findings

Data analysis showed that the central concept in Tehrani women’s lived experience of childbearing is “modernity”; a concept that, in interaction with traditional and modern values, shapes their attitudes and decisions. Based on the findings, the main themes include the following:

-        Instrumental rationality: Many women view childbearing in terms of calculating costs and benefits. The increase in the costs of raising, educating, and caring for children has made having more than two children undesirable.

-        Economic pressures and insecurities: Inflation, housing costs, and concerns about the financial future were identified as the most important obstacles to the desire to have children.

-        Changing gender roles: As women increase their level of education and enter the labor market, they have found new roles in society that conflict with traditional maternal duties.

-        Declining social support: Many participants pointed to the declining role of the extended family, the lack of institutional support, and the double pressure on women.

-        Modern lifestyle and individualism: The desire for personal independence, maintaining physical beauty, recreational and career opportunities, and modern values ​​were other factors inhibiting fertility.

-        Social expectations and pressures: Despite modern developments, cultural norms continue to emphasize the importance of motherhood, and childless or low-childbearing women sometimes face social judgment.

-        Overall, women's experiences showed that childbearing is no longer a one-sided task, but rather a process influenced by the simultaneous presence of socio-economic structures and individual agency.

Discussion and Conclusion

The results showed that the decline in fertility in Tehran is not simply the result of economic crises or cultural changes, but rather a reflection of the intersection of modernity and tradition in women's daily lives. The decision to have children in this context has become highly rational and multidimensional; where women negotiate between traditional family and societal expectations, individual aspirations, economic pressures, and modern lifestyles. This study showed that population policies will fail if they are based solely on economic incentives or religious advice. Designing successful policies requires a deep understanding of women's subjective and social experiences. Suggestions such as creating social support infrastructures (daycare, parental leave, flexible jobs), strengthening family and institutional supports, and culturally redefining women's roles beyond motherhood can pave the way for women to better adapt between traditional and modern roles. In general, childbearing in Iran today is a multi-layered and constructed phenomenon that is shaped by a combination of traditional and modern values, social pressures, and individual choice. Attention to these complexities is essential not only for population policymakers but also for all social analysts, because without hearing women's voices and understanding their lived experiences, no sustainable policy in the field of fertility and family can be realized.