Declining Population In Iceland: Why Women Doesn't Want To Become Mother

Motherhood has traditionally been considered an ideal role for women, the increase in gender equality has given many women the right to choose a child-free life. However, this choice often puts women in a challenging position, creating a constant tension between societal expectations and personal freedom.

Iceland and other Nordic countries offer strong parental leave policies to promote gender equality, providing both mothers and fathers with six months of leave each. 

This broad expectation that women will necessarily become mothers can create an environment where women who choose not to have children are often questioned as family-unfriendly.

This includes the incorrect social assumption that women without children are failures or will regret not having children. Such assumptions can create dilemmas for these women about their decisions.

Some women who have decided not to have children still find themselves in a dilemma, considering options like freezing their eggs as a way to delay the decision.

Such social norms often deem women's decision to remain child-free as inappropriate, leading to them becoming victims of prejudice.

In small countries like Iceland, where maintaining the population is a concern, the expectation to have children can be particularly intense. Reportedly, the research indicates that family expectations around becoming grandparents and worries about childless women having no one to care for them in old age contribute to this pressure.

Even if only one partner in a couple desires to become a parent, women often feel pressured. They fear that not fulfilling this wish could lead to the breakup of the relationship. (Images: Zee News Hindi)