A chilling new directive is emerging from Russia, one that attempts to reshape a woman’s most personal decision: whether or not to become a mother. The health ministry has approved guidelines recommending that women who express no desire for children be referred to psychotherapists, aiming to “foster a positive attitude toward motherhood.” But for many Russian women, this isn’t encouragement – it’s coercion.
The move comes as Russia grapples with a severe demographic crisis. Fertility rates have plummeted to a two-century low, with only 1.4 children born per woman – far below the 2.1 needed to maintain the current population. The ongoing conflict in Ukraine, and the loss of young men to the battlefield, has only deepened the concern, prompting President Putin to warn of potential “veritable extinction.”
But the women directly impacted are voicing fierce opposition. Speaking anonymously, fearing repercussions, they describe the initiative as cruel and fundamentally ineffective. Maria, a 25-year-old IT specialist, stated plainly, “I don’t see myself as a mother and I don’t see any reasons why having children would make me happier.” She feels the state isn’t trying to support her choices, but actively working against them.
The government’s approach, according to many, is a misguided attempt to control a deeply personal choice. Beyond the controversial psychotherapy directive, lawmakers have banned “child-free propaganda” – effectively silencing conversations about choosing not to have children – and tightened restrictions on abortion access. Fines of up to $5,000 can be levied against those who violate the ban.
Anastasia, a 29-year-old child rehabilitation specialist, argues that the focus is entirely misplaced. “First, you need to create conditions that make a woman actually want to have a child. Not pressure her in every possible way.” For her, the issue isn’t a lack of desire, but a lack of financial stability. A monthly salary of roughly $1,000 feels insufficient to even contemplate affording a home.
Economic realities are a significant factor. The war in Ukraine and subsequent international sanctions have fueled inflation and sent mortgage interest rates soaring, making financial security a distant dream for many. This economic strain is compounded by a societal issue: a perceived “lack of a fatherhood culture,” where men often disengage after divorce, leaving women to raise children alone.
The divorce rate in Russia is alarmingly high, contributing to a sense of instability and insecurity. Margarita, an English teacher unable to have children due to medical reasons, fears the initiative will further stigmatize women who don’t fit the prescribed mold, labeling them as outcasts and damaging their psychological well-being.
Even mothers express concern. Irina, a 45-year-old doctor and mother of two, passionately defends a woman’s right to choose. “Why give birth if you don’t want to? Why force women to bear unwanted children?” she asks, highlighting the ethical implications of the directive.
While some men, like Maxim, 49, dismiss the directive as merely a recommendation and view choosing not to have children as “unhealthy,” the overwhelming sentiment among women is one of frustration and resistance. The attempt to “therapize” motherhood is seen not as a solution to a demographic crisis, but as a profound violation of personal autonomy.
