Social Representation of Ferdowsi's Shahnameh The Study of Socio-Cultural Identity of Women and Iranian Families in Ferdowsi's Perspective

This study reviews the formations of the family in Shahnameh; distribution of power in it; and its identity. Therefore, we study the theoretical background related to the subject of the research, theories related to the topic of cultural theories of Malinowski, Radcliffe Brown, Ario and Shlensky, Ronard and proposed research and theoretical framework of the research were written according to the background of the research. Citation method was used to examine the issue and we tried to use social representations to explore sociologically the composer’s ideas behind his poems in Shanameh. Studying the families of Zahak, Faranak and Abtin, Fereidoon, Zal and Roodabeh, Rostam, Siavash, Piran (the minister of Afrasyab), Katayoon, Goshtasb, Bahram Shah and Farangis, and Keikhosrow shows that various forms of families propounded in modern sociology can be found in Shahnameh. On the other hand, families play a key role in preserving the identity of individuals and it is also sociologically a distinctive factor and at a higher level, the family is a symbol of identity of individuals and the identity of individuals is based on their families. The family also plays an important role in preserving cultural heritage, transition of culture and customs and also linking generations. Family marriage between two different communities, cultural conflict, cultural diversity, and cultural transmission, understanding cultural commonalities, and ultimately the cultural production and reproduction are among cases of identity and family issues in which the role and family identity of Iranians can be found. We also know that men have had the main part in decision making in the family though in some cases the decisions were made together with their wives, who were respected a lot in the Iranian family.