Modernization, Family and Demographic Transition in Kurdistan

Two waves of modernization, including white revolution (especially land reform and health programs) in 1960s and birth control programs in 1990s have been influencing demographic aspects of family institution in Kurdistan. This study tries to describe these impacts from a different point of view. Based on qualitative methodology and adopting depth interview, observation and thematic analysis techniques the processes and outcomes of implementation of these programs have come to be found. The results show that white revolution provided a context to transform extended family to core family and to experience the reduction of mortality. Birth control programs encountered Kurdish family to unpreceded low childbearing, small size of family and unintended fertility. Consequently, the major parts of current situation of family’s demographic structure refer to modernization elements, and undoubtedly continuation of this process brings new features of family changes to this society. The point is that the modernization has changed the life cycle of family in Kurdistan.