Structural Solutions to Remove Barriers to Childbearing; Analysis of the Perspectives of Employed Women in the Social Security Organization

Authors

1 Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

2 Deopartment of Demography, Faculty of Social Sciences, Yazd University, Yazd, Iran

3 Deopartment of Demography, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

10.22059/jisr.2025.394507.1617

Abstract

A critical component of the success of any social policy is the consideration of the needs of stakeholders and the demands of the policy’s target community. By adopting an approach that views policy issues through the lens of target groups, a platform is established for fostering a more empathetic space between policymakers and policy audiences, as well as efficiency and effectiveness. Employed mothers in Iran, who are one of the subgroups targeted in population policy design, have been addressed through various provisions of the Law of Supporting Families aimed at facilitating their childbearing conditions. The present study seeks to explore the proposed solutions of employed women to overcome childbearing barriers and more effectively fulfill family roles, as framed through their lived experiences and the challenges they face regarding childbearing.
This study was conducted using a qualitative method, with 22 married employed women from the Tehran Social Security Organization selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis technique.
The finding revealed that the proposed solutions of employed women are categorized into four primary themes: “Generous Welfare Measures,” “Adaptive Solutions,” “Law Reform-Oriented Solutions,” and “Revisiting Cultural and Educational Policies.” The labor market’s systemic neglect of women’s employment at the macro level and organizational disregard for working mothers are the sources of some of the challenges that employed women in the workplace encounter in relation to reproduction. This reflects a broader dismissal of the maternal role of employed women.
 The results underscore the necessity of promoting the maternal presence of women in society, recognizing the importance of motherhood, and creating an Islamic model of employed motherhood.

Keywords

References

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Social Studies and Research in Iran
Volume 14, Issue 3 - Serial Number 56
September 2025
Pages 451-470

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