Inter-Generation Woman's Social Mobility in Tehran

The study of social mobility is part of urban studies. Iranian sociological investigations do not reflect much about the problem of women’s social mobility; while understanding the dynamics of women’s mobility and its extent can help in planning and policy-making within the framework of social studies. The present research probes into women’s inter-generation social mobility in an Iranian urban setting: that of the city of Tehran. This research measures girls’ inter-generation social mobility (the new generation), as compared to that of their mothers, by considering indices such as level of education, number of children, age of marriage, status of job, and the choice in spouse selection. Moreover, factors influencing inter-generation social mobility have also been analyzed and assessed. The findings show that the girls under the study (sample population) had greater upward inter-generation social mobility, as compared with their mothers. This is demonstrated by a comparison of values of indices of inter-generation social mobility with the earlier generations. This comparison indicated an increasing upward tendency. Among factors influencing such a tendency, the parents’ income was of paramount importance, within other independent variables. Whereas, so much as their grand mothers were concerned, the same importance was attached to the age of marriage.