Unveiling Paradoxes: Global Population Control and the Rebirth of Women Under Authoritarianism

The rapid population growth in developing countries during the 1960s raised global concerns about potential economic and social instability. In response to these global pressures, the Islamic Republic of Iran removed legal barriers and initiated its exceptionally successful Family Planning Program in 1988, winning the 1999 United Nations Population Awards. This research explores the transformative effects of the Islamic Republic of Iran's Family Planning Program on women's rights and societal norms. Although this population policy was at times implemented forcibly and violated women’s rights and autonomy, it had significant "inadvertent" emancipatory effects on women. The program led to a notable decline in birth rates, increased life expectancy and evolved gender norms. It fostered an environment where love and partnership began to redefine heterosexual relationships for the first time under the Islamic regime of Iran. Drawing on Bourdieu’s Field theory and his concepts of cleft habitus and symbolic revolution, this research analyzes how Iranian women navigated and resisted authoritarian constraints to enhance their agency. Using primary archival sources and exploring demographic trends in Iran, I highlight the paradox of empowerment amid oppressive conditions. This research contributes to the broader discourse on violence in authoritarian regimes and the resilience of feminist movements in contexts marked by both progress and backlash. Ultimately, it underscores the impact of the global field of population control in destabilizing authoritarian gender regimes and enhancing gender equality.