How Mothers and Childfree Women Redefine Fulfillment: A Comparative Study of Life and Marital Satisfaction in a Pronatalist Society

In pronatalist societies where motherhood remains symbolically central to feminine identity, women’s well-being is shaped by gendered expectations surrounding reproduction. Within such contexts, understanding how different reproductive trajectories relate to marital and life satisfaction becomes particularly important. This study compared the marital and life satisfaction of mothers and voluntarily childless women in Türkiye, a pronatalist society. A sequential explanatory mixed-method design was employed. Quantitative data were collected from 178 employed married women (31 voluntarily childless, 147 mothers) using standardized life and marital satisfaction scales. This was followed by in-depth interviews with 22 participants (11 from each group). The quantitative findings indicated no statistically significant differences in marital or life satisfaction between the two groups. However, qualitative analysis revealed that comparable experiences of satisfaction were constructed through distinct normative pathways. Mothers derived fulfillment from culturally validated maternal identities despite increased responsibilities, whereas childfree women constructed satisfaction around autonomy, relational equality, and deliberate ethical choice within a pronatalist context. While voluntary childlessness broadens the repertoire of feminine identities, motherhood remains a powerful symbolic reference point for both groups. Rather than signaling the erosion of pronatalist norms, the findings suggest their ongoing renegotiation within contemporary Turkish society. These dynamics underscore the importance of addressing role-based stigma and supporting diverse reproductive choices in efforts to promote women’s psychological well-being and social equity.