Co-Cultural Theory and Increasing Age of Girls’ Marriage; Analysis of The Movie “Number 17 Soheila”

Figures and statistics show that increasing the age of marriage has led to an increase in the number of single girls. Over the years, various media outlets have covered this important issue, however, the problems of these women and their interactions with the dominant structure of society has never been addressed. The movie “Number 17 Soheila” is the first work in Iranian cinema that has addressed this issue using a visual medium.The current article is based on co-cultural theory and is trying to grasp the consequences of not having a timely marriage via qualitative content analysis of this cinematic work. It will study the special strategies that this part of the society as a co-cultural group would employ to interact and communicate with the dominant group, which are in a higher position in terms of identity hierarchy. Findings of this study shows that not having a timely marriage can lead to decline of beauty and youth, low self-confidence, loneliness and depression, sensitivity and irritability, other people's reproach, childbearing issues, unfulfilled sexual and emotional needs, replacing marriage with questionable relationships, and eventually even more difficulty in getting married.Also, the image presented in this movie shows a co-cultural communication strategy that seeks to replicate and adapt to the dominant group.