The study aims to explore the lived experiences of infertility among married women in Kashmir, where motherhood is culturally central and socially expected. It seeks to understand how infertility disrupts identity, marriage and social belonging, positioning the issue not just as a biomedical challenge but as a profound psycho-social experience.
A qualitative research design was employed, involving semi-structured interviews with 20 married Kashmiri women experiencing infertility. Data were thematically analyzed to capture recurring patterns of meaning. Thematic interpretation was enriched through Erikson’s psycho-social theory, Goffman’s stigma theory and feminist perspectives, allowing for deeper engagement with cultural and gendered dimensions.
Four core themes emerged: loss of motherhood and emotional void, marital conflict and strained relationships, social stigma and withdrawal, coping strategies through faith, avoidance and healing and adoption as an alternative. Infertility was found to cause profound emotional and relational distress, intensifying women’s marginalization, while culturally embedded strategies shaped their attempts to adapt and persevere.
This study provides unique insights into infertility within Kashmiri society, contextualizing it through local cultural expectations and gendered roles. By combining psycho-social, stigma and feminist lenses, it advances understanding of reproductive challenges in South Asia. It highlights the urgent need for culturally sensitive psycho-social support responsive to women’s lived realities.
