فصلنامه فرهنگی - تربیتی زنان و خانواده
سال هفتم شماره 21 (زمستان 1391)

Given the increasing tendency of the society toward uncontested divorce, the present study aims at investigating the social factors influencing this kind of divorce in Kermanshah relying on a sociological analysis and using quantitative (survey) and qualitative (field study, documentary research and library work) methods. The analyses indicated that the contrast between traditional and modern structures of the current Iranian society, halfindividualism, increase of women’s awareness, women’s employment, changing attitudes towards marriage, imperfect socialization, and decrease of social control are among the factors which cause the increase of divorce in society. A comparison of uncontested divorce and contested divorce indicated that uncontested divorce is mostly followed by the middle class people who are closer to modern structures of the society, have untraditional attitudes towards life and utilize more peaceful ways in dealing with each other and even in divorce process. Fewer cases of betrayal and addiction are seen among these people and economic problems influenced their split less than individual, emotional, and cultural problems.

This paper attempts to investigate the role of watching television in shaping the consumption pattern of female university students. To fulfill this objective, the students of Al- Zahra University were studied. A group of 240 students were selected on the basis of the random sampling method and were given a researcher-made questionnaire to answer. The data were analyzed using SPSS software, the Friedman test and the Kramer and Tow-Kandal B correlation coefficient. The results of the bivariable and tri-variable analyses were presented on the basis of the kind and degree of correlation between independent and dependent variables. The results indicated that there is positive correlation between ‘length of watching television’ (the independent variable) and Al-Aahra University students’ consumption pattern (the dependent variable). It was also found out that although most students watch TV as a leisure activity, the programs of this medium impact their choice of food, clothes, gifts, toiletries and cultural goods in shopping.

The present study deals with the socio-cultural backgrounds of unmarried girls’ living a single in Tehran megacity. The research data were collected using the qualitative method and the semistructured interview technique. The subjects were selected via purposive sampling method and the collected data were analyzed using the thematic analysis procedure. The results of this study show that the unfavorable family backgrounds (the eradication of the original family, dysfunctioning of the original family), sociocultural backgrounds (such as the ascendance of girls’ marriage age, educational immigration experience and influence of peer groups) and economic needs are among the most important reasons which pave the way for young, single girls’ living a single life compulsorily. Among the most important consequences of unmarried girls’ living a single life, one can refer to loneliness, hopelessness, anxiety, depression, lack of true affection and tranquility beside family, lack of a sense of security, rejection of this style of life by people in the society, and, above all, not belonging to a family and development of a feeling senselessness in life.

This study aims at examining the impact of karate training on the enhancement of assertiveness among Sabzevar’s shy female guidance school students. To fulfill this objective, the pretestposttest quasi-experimental research method with a control group was utilized. The subjects were selected through the multistage random sampling method and after making sure about their homogeneity, they were divided into three experimental groups (n = 42) and a control group (n = 14). The experimental croups received karate training (independent variable) but the control group did not receive any treatment. The length of the training program was 8 weeks and the subjects followed it three days a week with 120 minutes of daily exercise. The measurement instruments included the Rafi shyness questionnaire with 25 items and the Gambrel and Ritchie assertiveness questionnaire with 40 items, which were administered at the pre-test and posttest stages. The collected data indicated that karate training doesn’t increase the assertiveness of shy students (p<%5). It was also found out that there is no significant difference in the assertiveness of the girls who had received Kata/Kumite training and those who hadn’t (p<%5) and the assertiveness the girls who had received Kumite training and those who had received Kata training was not significant different, either (p<%5). Hence, it can be said that karate training did not have any significant effect on reducing shyness (p<%5). The findings of the present study suggest that modification of maladjusted behaviors requirevarious techniques one of which can be physical training.

The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between family structure and depression in female adolescents. For this purpose, 167 female guidance school students with the average age of 13/5 were chosen from the sixth educational district in Tehran through the random sampling method and were administered the Child Depression Inventory and the Family Assessment Device. The collected data were analyzed through descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, etc.) and inferential statistics (Pearson correlation coefficient and multiple regression analysis). The results showed that 67/1 of the sample group had no depression, 29/3 were on the threshold of having depression and 3/6 were depressed. The results also showed a significant negative correlation between depression and the total family structure score (α < 0/05, r = - 0/159) and the subscales of family roles (α < 0/01, r = -0/438) and emotional expression (α < 0/01, r = -0/280). Also, there was a significant positive correlation between depression and problem solving (α < 0/01, r = 0/417). Given the coefficients for the influence of family roles (-0/295) and problem solving (0/242), the regression analysis showed that 23% of the variance of depression in the sample could be explained by these two subscales. The implications are discussed at the end.

Most consumers consider their clothing fashion as a means to manage their public image, to express their affiliation with a specific group or to display their autonomy. Fashion is a form of collective behavior and style followed by a large group of people at a given time and place. This phenomenon is influenced by social and personal traits. The social concerns of an individual is one of the crucial factors which influences his/her evaluation of others’ reactions towards his/her behavior which, in turn, predisposes him/her to conformity. Individuals with independent and dependent self-concepts display varying degrees of social concerns and conformity. The aim of this study is to analyze the presuppositions and consequences of the Iranian young ladies’ conformity in choosing their clothing fashion. The subjects were 280 female students from Isfahan University who were selected by the stratified random sampling method. The conceptual model of the study is a structural model aimed at testing the relationships between independent and dependent self-concepts, consideration of the social comparison information, conformity and satisfaction with conformity. The results indicate that individuals with dependent selfconcepts tend to pay more attention to the social comparison information. However, individuals with independent selfconcepts are highly predisposed to conformity in following clothing fashion. Also, the information gained from social comparisons had a significant relationship with conformity. Finally, the relationship between conformity and its outcome, i.e. satisfaction with conformity, was significant.

Women comprise half of the world population and having their own intrinsic capabilities, they play a crucial role in man’s evolution, training the generations, emotional management of the family and cultural dynamism. Today, women as a huge social group seek their rights and demands within the framework of a gender-oriented discourse and feministic tendencies. Following a political and legal approach, feminism attempts to regain women’s forfeited rights, eliminate gender discrimination and challenge male-oriented discourse and representations of patriarchy and it has managed to spread its notions and demands as a universal discourse to all parts of the world. Today, feminism presents its most dynamic and extensive form in association with postmodernism. To spread their ideas, feminists have utilized the artistic and literary potentials of novel as the most influential device and medium. Some postmodern Iranian novels have dealt with the issue of women, too. In this study, the findings achieved from the content analysis of some postmodern Persian novels suggest that their authors believe in some essential feministic concepts and elements such as women’s backwardness, cruelty to women, women’s rights, women’s freedom, social inequality, which, in turn, suggest that some social realities have influenced the modern Iranian society’s outlook towards women and as long as such attitudes exist in the thought system and structure of the society, radical feministic approaches and extremist tendencies towards gender issues will lead to the intensification of this outlook in Persian novels and its cultural and educational outcomes in the community.