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Department of Counseling, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Kharazmi, Karaj, Iran. , rkasaee82@khu.ac.ir
Abstract: (18 Views)
Background: Voluntary childlessness among employed Iranian women has emerged as a relatively new phenomenon resulting from the interaction of individual, occupational, and structural–cultural factors, and is closely linked to how women experience and redefine gender roles and personal identity. Within the context of dominant social norms, this phenomenon generates diverse subjective meanings and social consequences for employed women. Nevertheless, there remains a significant gap in the literature regarding an in-depth exploration of these women’s lived experiences.
Aims: This study aimed to explore the lived experiences of employed Iranian women who have consciously chosen voluntary childlessness.
Methods: This qualitative study adopted a phenomenological approach. The study population consisted of employed Iranian women who experienced voluntary childlessness as an informed and deliberate choice. Participants were selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected via in-depth semi-structured interviews and analyzed using NVivo software through initial coding, extraction of main themes, and interpretive data analysis.
Results: The findings indicated that voluntary childlessness among employed Iranian women is a multidimensional and process-oriented phenomenon that either represents a stable decision formed prior to marriage or emerges gradually through life experiences, marital relationships, and critical events. Spousal agreement played a key role in reinforcing this decision, whereas spousal opposition transformed childlessness into a source of marital tension. Voluntarily childless women experienced substantial social and familial pressures and employed conscious coping strategies to maintain autonomy and psychological well-being. This decision was also associated with changes in social relationships, proactive planning for aging without reliance on children, and a redefinition of feminine identity beyond motherhood. Additionally, preventing the intergenerational transmission of psychological or biological suffering and rational evaluations of economic pressures and life realities contributed to the decision to remain childfree. Ultimately, for many women, voluntary childlessness was accompanied by feelings of freedom, personal and professional growth, and increased marital satisfaction.
Conclusion: The findings provide a foundation for the development of supportive policies and counseling interventions aimed at reducing the negative effects of stigma and social pressure. By proposing a comprehensive conceptual framework, this study offers practical implications for improving individual and family counseling processes in support of women’s diverse life choices.
Aims: This study aimed to explore the lived experiences of employed Iranian women who have consciously chosen voluntary childlessness.
Methods: This qualitative study adopted a phenomenological approach. The study population consisted of employed Iranian women who experienced voluntary childlessness as an informed and deliberate choice. Participants were selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected via in-depth semi-structured interviews and analyzed using NVivo software through initial coding, extraction of main themes, and interpretive data analysis.
Results: The findings indicated that voluntary childlessness among employed Iranian women is a multidimensional and process-oriented phenomenon that either represents a stable decision formed prior to marriage or emerges gradually through life experiences, marital relationships, and critical events. Spousal agreement played a key role in reinforcing this decision, whereas spousal opposition transformed childlessness into a source of marital tension. Voluntarily childless women experienced substantial social and familial pressures and employed conscious coping strategies to maintain autonomy and psychological well-being. This decision was also associated with changes in social relationships, proactive planning for aging without reliance on children, and a redefinition of feminine identity beyond motherhood. Additionally, preventing the intergenerational transmission of psychological or biological suffering and rational evaluations of economic pressures and life realities contributed to the decision to remain childfree. Ultimately, for many women, voluntary childlessness was accompanied by feelings of freedom, personal and professional growth, and increased marital satisfaction.
Conclusion: The findings provide a foundation for the development of supportive policies and counseling interventions aimed at reducing the negative effects of stigma and social pressure. By proposing a comprehensive conceptual framework, this study offers practical implications for improving individual and family counseling processes in support of women’s diverse life choices.
Article number: 3
Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
Special
Received: 2025/08/6 | Accepted: 2026/05/18 | Published: 2026/08/23
Received: 2025/08/6 | Accepted: 2026/05/18 | Published: 2026/08/23
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This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)