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Women’s Narratives on the Barriers and Challenges of Having Additional Childbirth

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Associate Professor, Department of Women and Family Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences and Economics, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran.

2 Master of Women's Studies (Women and Family), Faculty of Social Sciences and Economics, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

In order to investigate the lived experiences of women with respect to the obstacles and difficulties associated with having additional children, this investigation implements a qualitative methodology. The research employs Braun and Clarke's six-phase thematic analysis method to analyze the narratives of 18 married women residing in Tehran Province, as evidenced by semi-structured interviews. The results indicate four overarching themes: financial and livelihood concerns, attitudinal conflicts regarding reproduction, changes in parental responsibility patterns, and health-related challenges to fertility. These are further articulated through twelve interrelated subthemes: economic instability and household livelihood crisis; anxiety over securing stable employment; concerns about the cost and quality of child-rearing; the influence of consumerism, welfare ideals, and digital media on reproductive decisions; the cultural devaluation of motherhood and stigmatization of large families; existential pessimism toward the meaning of life and procreation; distrust in formal educational institutions; pervasive penetration of virtual space into family dynamics; individualized and unilateral motherhood; psychological exhaustion from role conflicts; unequal access to infertility treatment; and structural shortcomings in health insurance coverage. The most frequently cited and profoundly felt constraint was economic vulnerability. The significance of addressing these multifaceted barriers in population policies is emphasized by the study. In order to be effective and socially responsive, these policies must be concerned with the cultural and affective aspects of reproductive decision-making, in addition to economic reforms.

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References
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Woman in Development & Politics
Volume 23, Issue 3
October 2025
Pages 471-500
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