Families in Iran: Changes, Challenges and Future

Abstract

The expression of Iranian family is viewed more from its descriptive aspect than from an analytical one. Iranian families have historically been more religious and have been organized with regards to religious interpretations coming from Zoroastrianism and Islam practitionres. In such families, marriage and reproduction are of a significant value. Parents along with their children are established in a network of kinship relations and most issues are organized through this network. Throughout the past decades and even before that, families had undergone major changes. Rising of divorce rate; reduction in marriage rate; freedoms given to women and their increased participation in social and political fields; changes in attitudes on gender issues, focusing on love and emotions as being a primary criterion in selecting a spouse along with support from the family and changes that have occurred among the new generation are some of the main examples. On the other hand a simultaneous presence of these generations, in a single family, has prepared the grounds for integration within a family and its simpler relationships with the social environment. However, Iranian families encounter major challenges related to women, children from the new generation and modernization, whose changes had been introduced through public media and education.$$changes in Iranian family, family types, Generations

Social aspects of multiple sclerosis for Iranian individuals

“…Family is an important institution in Iran, such that identification of Iranian society is not possible without identification of families [21]. Islam places great emphasis on family.…”

“…Religious beliefs often influence health and preconceptions about diseases [20]. Family is an important social institution in Iran, and women, in their roles as wives and mothers, represent its central axis [21]. As MS is prevalent among women, this disease also potentially affects entire families.…”

Temporary Marriage: Attitude and Tendency in Iran

“…On the other hand, the simultaneous presence of these generations, in a single family, has prepared the grounds for integration within a family and its simpler relationships with the social environment. However, Iranian families encounter major challenges related to women, children from the new generation, and modernization, stemming from changes introduced through public media and education (Azadarmaki & Bahar, 2002).…”

The nature, function, and social context of advice: a cross-cultural study

“…Many authors have noted the existence and importance of traditional family values and ties, and child-parent relationships in Iran (e.g., Azadarmaki & Bahar, 2006;Hofstede, 2001;Khodayarifard, Rehm, & Khodayarifard, 2007), in contrast to the importance of peer relationships in the West that begins during adolescence (e.g., Brendgen et al, 2005;Kiran-Esen, 2003;Perrine & Aloise-Young, 2004). According to Hynie (n.d.) collectivist cultures give priority to parent-child relationships, as compared to peer relationships.…”

“…Unfortunately, there has been no research in Iran since Hofstede's work examining the individualism-collectivism of the country -in part because of restrictions on social research. However, the prevalence of collectivism in contemporary Iran is supported by Iranian authors who document the large size of Iranian families, the emphasis on family and existence of strong emotional family ties traditional values, the emphasis on ritual, and the pressure for young people to excel academically in order to improve the image of their family (e.g., Azadarmaki & Bahar, 2006;Hatami, 2007, Khodayarifard, Rehm, & Khodayarifard, 2007Mortazavi, 2006;Yeganeh, 2007). In addition, measures of trust and cooperation among in-groups and out-groups (indicants of collectivism) showed Iranians to be higher on all measures than were Americans (Buchan, Grimalda, Brewer & Foddy, 2007).…”