Biopolitics of Non-Motherhood: Childfree Women on a Persian-Language Digital Platform for Mothers

In Iran, motherhood continues to be considered an important and essential part of women’s social life. However, nonmotherhood is gaining momentum as Iranian women increasingly choose to be childfree. This study explores women’s perceptions of motherhood using the content of a Persian-language discussion and mini-blogging forum called Ninisite. Ninisite is one of the largest interactive digital spaces dedicated to topics such as family, motherhood, fertility, infertility, pregnancy, childbirth, and childcare. This study uses a combination of cyber-ethnography and critical discourse analysis to investigate users’ attitudes and perceptions on non-motherhood and childfreeness on Ninisite. The research shows the participatory and solidarizing climate on Ninisite’s interactive blogosphere to provide informative, spiritual, and affective support, not only to mothers but also to non-mothers in a context where childfreeness is stigmatized as well as socially and politically scrutinized.