A Sociological Analysis of Youth Preferences to Select Celibacy (Case Study: Students of Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch of Tehran)

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

1 PhD student in Sociology, Iran Social Affairs, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Anthropology, Central Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

3 Assistant Professor, Department of Social Sciences, Payame Noor University

4 Assistant Professor, Department of Social Sciences and Communication, Islamic Azad University, East Tehran Branch, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Introduction: Most of youth population and particularly young students prefer to have celibacy life style and remain single. Nowadays it has become widespread life style of most youths in Iran especially in educated and rich families. If, until now the financial and economic problems, education and employment has been considered the main obstacle of youth’s marriage or cause of their reluctance to marriage, but it seems that there are other problems in this choise that they prefer single life relative to married life. The purpose of the present research ply commentary approach and Emic view and among involved people to analyze the preferences of the young Iranian individuals to have celibacy life style via sociological analysis. 
Method: The methodology of this study is qualitative analysis conducted by use of grounded theory (Grounded Theory). The desired sample was selected among single students of Science & Research Branch on Islamic Azad University of Tehran (boys >28 years-old & girls>25 years-old) and through purposeful sampling. To collect data, deep and Semi-Structured interviews were utilized. For analysis of data, the constant and 3 phases of comparative analysis methods, Straus & Corbin has been used by the authors.
Results and discussion: The findings of research showed that major causes of the preferences are including social and cultural problems, past experiences and imperfect patterns as causal conditions and environmental, family pressures and economical & financial problems as grounding conditions as well as ignorance of opposite part lack of associates support and lack of necessary motives to marriage as intervention conditions in celibacy selection of youths. Finally, based on obtained data from statistical sample and extracted codes, the consequences of such life style has been explained as elimination and/or reduced perceived personal growth, indifference to marriage, double side approach on marriage, delay in marriage age, higher age of marriage and so on.
Conclusion: Since Iranian society in recent decades has experienced great changes in the cultural and social arena, which in turn has had a great impact on changing the views and thinking of individuals. This change of perspective begins with the individual and continues with the modeling of the core family lifestyle. What is perceived in the interviews with some participants is that urban youth have more choice of marriage time and living in the city due to low social connections between families and relatives and low involvement of large families (such as grandparents, uncles, cousins). In the decisions of the usually young nuclear family, less pressure is placed on marriage, or even the expansion of friendships with the opposite sex and job requirements in cities, has made the mandatory view of marriage in cities less colorful and less important than rural areas. Solving the problems of marriage requires a widespread cultural and public education. Encouraging young people and families to facilitate marriage and marital living, spreading the right culture of marriage and creating a space for marriage discourse in society can be effective in this regard. Finally, it should be said that in our country due to the lack of a organization in charge of family affairs and marriage and as a result of family confusion and bureaucracy in some related organizations and institutions, as well as to fulfill the tenth principle of the Constitution Islamic Republic of Iran to facilitate the formation of the family and also to create conditions for targeting the lifestyle of young people based on their circumstances intensified the situation among the youth.  Therefore, it seems necessary to have a strong and powerful institution or organization in the field of family to manage of young people.

Keywords


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