Urged to
Multiply, Iranian Couples Are Dubious
In Tehran, Iran there is an
increasing number of young, middle-class Iranians who want children. Iran’s
leaders are worried about the steep decline in fertility rates that they have
taken an initiative t persuade Iranian families to have more children. Iran’s
supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khameni announce last month a 14-point program
that health officials hope will lead to doubling the population to 150 million
by 2050. Hospital delivery stays are now free, and women are allowed longer
maternity leave. Past policies to control population growth have been reversed,
so the government has canceled subsidies for condoms and birth control pills
and vasectomies are no longer free. There are now billboards in the capital
showing a father with five children happy and a father with only one child
unhappy. As well, parents who have five children are now eligible for $1,500
bonus. However, it does not seem that many of the young middle-class Iranians
will be tempted to have children because they not only feel that they can’t
afford to, but they also do not want a child born into the situation that Iran
is in. Experts believe that if there are more permanent jobs that will allow
people to feel more stable and secure that they would then be more willing to
have children. Since currently young individuals are having difficulties
affording rent, they are less willing to marry and have children because it
will only make the situation worse. If the economy can change and provide more
security, then the population will begin to increase.
Monique Martinez
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