Journal of Iranian Social Studies

Childbearing: A Reflection of Changing Family Values: The Case of Married One-Child or Childless Men and Women in Karaj

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Aboutorab Talebi 1
Neda Ataollahi 2

1 Associate Professor of Cultural Sociology, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Allameh Tabatabaei University, Tehran, Iran

2 PhD student in Sociology - Iranian Social Issues, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22034/jss.2025.2053822.1888
Abstract
The aim of this study is to examine the transformation of the meaning of childbearing within the context of changing family values. In this regard, the study also investigates the gap between the ideal number of children and couples’ actual childbearing behavior. Although having few children is not considered desirable in Iranian society, the decline in fertility rates below the replacement level indicates a growing tendency toward having only one child or remaining childless among Iranian families.
This research adopts a qualitative approach using descriptive phenomenology. The participants were selected through purposive sampling, and data were collected via semi-structured, in-depth interviews with 14 married men and women residing in the city of Karaj.
The findings reveal that participants lived experiences demonstrate a transformation in the semantic patterns associated with childbearing compared to the traditional cultural and familial background of Iranian society. From their perspective, decisions regarding childbearing are increasingly shaped by factors such as the expansion of virtual spaces and changes in relationship and parenting patterns; rethinking the meaning of childbearing; perfectionism; environmental concerns; social instability; individualism; anxiety over marital instability and the responsibilities of parenthood; bodily and health-related issues; lack of family and societal support for childbearing; changes in parenting styles; the gap between economic realities and expectations; and the stigmatization of large families.
Based on the results, the childbearing experience among families may be labeld as “conscious childbearing”, the outcome of which often manifests as one-child families or childlessness. The participants consider not only the role of personal and familial conditions in their decision-making but also the demands of modern life and the surrounding environmental context.

Keywords

Childbearing
Family values
Changing social attitudes
Desired number of children. The aim of this study is to examine the transformation of the meaning of childbearing within the context of changing family values. In this regard
the study also inv
actual childbearing behavior. Although having few children is not considered desirable in Iranian society
the decline in fertility rates below the replacement level indicates a growing tendency toward having only one child or remaining childless amo
rethinking the meaning of childbearing
perfectionism
environmental concerns
social instability
indivi
the childbearing experience among families may be labeld as &‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌ldquo
conscious childbearing&‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌rdquo
the outcome of which often manifests as one-child families or childlessness. The participants consider not only the role of personal and familial conditions in their decision-making but also the demands of modern life and the surrounding environmen
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Journal of Iranian Social Studies
Volume 18, Issue 4
Winter 2025
Pages 81-104

  • Receive Date 22 February 2025
  • Revise Date 01 September 2025
  • Accept Date 29 September 2025
  • First Publish Date 29 September 2025
  • Publish Date 19 February 2025

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