Transformations of the Family Institution in Modernization Process and its Impact on Iran's policy-making in the Field of Family

Abstract

Family sociologists believe that modernization is the most important factor in family transformations of developing countries. After the appearance of modernization in Iran, the family institution has experienced many changes in recent decades. After the Iranian Revolution, many policies and programs have been implemented to protect the family from the challenges of modernization. In this regard, the purpose of this study is to study the changes and transformations of the family in the context of modernization and its impact on Iran's policy makings in the field of family. The research is conducted by a qualitative method and the grounded theory approach has been used as the operational method of the research. The statistical sample of the research includes the citizens and the experts of Tabriz city. The sampling strategy is theoretical and the sampling method is purposeful. The findings indicate that modernization has made some changes in family patterns, in marriage rules, in family practices, in attitudes and patterns of childbearing, balance of power in the family, in leisure patterns and in attitudes and patterns of divorce. Also, the policies adopted by the governments after the revolution were not able to address the harms and challenges of the family. These policies are associated with some problems such as lack of a non-comprehensive policies or holistic approach to the family, having a harm-oriented approach to the family, existence of gnumerous family custodians, unclear family policies, unclear approaches achieving policies, ignoring family diversity, lack of a sociological insight into policies and the reduction of the semantic and conceptual meaning of the family to meet the basic needs.