Iranian Society Research Articles

“A Nation in Turmoil, A Field in Crisis: The Upshots of Woman, Life, Freedom”

By now, it is well known that the murder of the Kurdish woman, Jina Mahsa Amini, last fall sparked nationwide protests in Iran. Aside from Jina, many other young protestors were killed, imprisoned, or permanently disabled, as security forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran began blinding demonstrators by firing rubber bullets at their eyes.1 These ghastly scenes were accompanied by other disturbing and violent acts that included the raiding of universities, sexual abuse of students, targeting of minority populations, and shockingly the execution of young men for their involvement in these fracases.2 The Woman, Life, Freedom (Persian: Zan, Zendegi, Azadi; WLF) uprising, which erupted in response to gender discrimination in the Islamic Republic, promptly embraced other social causes. What began as gender protests amplified people's strident cries against political repression in Iran. Despite raising awareness of a range of sociopolitical problems in Iran, the gender focus of this movement remains its singular achievement. This uprising,whose slogan (Kurdish: Jin, Jiyan, Azadi ) gained inspiration from the struggles of Kurdish women fighters, has put gender issues center stage and restored women's presence as primary agents of change in Iranian society.

Ali Shariati and Crafting a Collective Revolutionary Islamic Identity for Women: A Socio-Historical Perspective

The literature on Ali Shariati, “the ideologue’’ of ‘‘the Iranian revolution,” and his arguments about women presents varied views, including rejection, criticism, and confirmation. While this literature is instructive, it primarily interprets Shariati’s texts from today’s socio-political perspective, and it thus lacks an analytical dimension that examines how and why Shariati’s ideas profoundly influenced numerous Iranian women in the 1970s. By revisiting the global and local socio-historical context of the 1970s and analyzing its influence on Iranian society, particularly the youth, as well as on Shariati’s perceptions and ideas about women’s social role within that socio-political context, this paper argues that Shariati crafted a “collective revolutionary Islamic identity” for women. This concept underscores the socio-historical and political significance of Shariati’s arguments about Muslim women in the political setting leading up to the revolution of 1979.

Taj Mahal is the Crystallization of Iranian Architecture and a Symbol of God's Throne on Earth

The Taj Mahal is basically related to the idea of Islamic architecture; although the influence of Islamic architecture on the Taj Mahal is clearly visible, traces of the influence of Iranian, Hindu, British, and Akbari architecture are evident in its structure. Taj Mahal is often known as a monument of love, but you can see it as a combination of architectural traditions and a monument of Iranian and Indian multiculturalism.According to the beginning of the arrival of Muslims in the Indus Valley, in the 8th century AD, except for the ruins of a small mosque, there is no other trace left from this period. But in the twelfth century AD, the arrival of Muslims started again with the creation of valuable works. After various periods and in the era known as the Mongols (Indian Gorkan), the architecture of the subcontinent achieved great prosperity with a significant influence of Iranian art. In historical sources, the names of Iranian personalities who played a key role in the construction of the Taj Mahal, such as Essa Shirazi (designer), Amanat Khan Shirazi (calligrapher) and Mohammad Hanif Kandahari, can be seen. Iranian art is one of the most essential identifiers of Islamic architecture, and the Taj Mahal is one of the most obvious examples of the presence of Iranian artists. The result of the research shows that due to the relations that Iran and India have had throughout history, especially during the Safavid and Gurkanian periods, the architectural culture and the construction of gardens and garden-mazars in India have been influenced by Iranian culture, literature, art and architecture. And for this reason, the Taj Mahal can be considered as the manifestation of the art of Islamic and Iranian architectural design in the Indian subcontinent, and what is called Mongolian architecture is essentially "Indian-Iranian Islamic architecture".

Iranian women’s sexual reconstruction through the internet: Informal education and empowerment

The emergence of the internet offered a unique space for Iranian women to inquire about their personal autonomy, including sexual autonomy. While the internet accelerated Iranian women’s emancipation from sexual subordination, critical questions concerning the impact of socio-cultural mores on this relatively new experience remain convoluted. Grounded in critical feminist and sexual script theoretical frameworks, this research investigates some Iranian women’s comprehension and experience of sexual autonomy by closely exploring the educational role of the internet on the discourse of sexual autonomy and its interconnection with the Iranian culture of shame and silence. Through semi-structural in-depth interviews and online ethnography, this research investigates how the internet serves as an informal learning tool that disrupts traditional learning and expedites women’s sexual autonomy in both online and offline spaces. Adopting critical thematic analysis, this study determined that the online realm altered the meaning of sexual subordination and led to a reconstruction that shifted the boundaries of shame and silence around sexuality. Through the interaction and interconnection between online and offline spaces, Iranian women problematize the culture of shame and silence through learning, revisiting their existing knowledge, and then silently acting. Therefore, a cultural reconstruction that is gradually redefining sexual scripts is emerging.

THE SYMBOLS AND MOTIFS USED IN TRADITIONAL IRANIAN EMBROIDERY

The recognition of the culture, identity, art, and especially handicrafts of every society is of special importance, therefore, the recognition of Iran's modern history and unique culture and Iranian society is also related to the recognition of its art and artistic works, and they are expressed in the best and most beautiful way by Iranian women. The History of Iranian Embroidery shows that Iranian art and culture, including handmade arts and crafts, have undergone many changes for thousands of years, but they have never lost their Iranian identity and roots. In this article, the meanings of symbols and patterns used in Iranian embroidery have been presented and their Iranian origin has been discussed.

THE PREVALENCE OF IRANIAN CULTURE AND THE PERSIAN LANGUAGE IN SHUSHI ACCORDING TO TRAVELLING NOTES OF ARCHPRIEST YEGHISHE (HOVAKIM) GEGHAMIANTS

19th-century author, Archpriest Yeghishe (Hovakim) Geghamiants, who is also known to the Armenian reader as Haykuni, in 1885 traveled to Artsakh and published his work “Travelling Notes”. There are noteworthy mentions of the prevalence of Iranian culture and the Persian language in Shushi City in Geghamiants’s work. Thanks to the information given by Geghamiants about the Persian people living in Shushi at that time, we get an idea of what they were involved in and what role the Persians had in the life of the city, what relations they had with the neighboring Armenians. When speaking about the daily life of the local Armenian population, Geghamiants noted that Armenians also used to sing Persian songs during their happy events, Armenians used to participate in the wedding ceremonies of neighboring Persians, and vice versa. When speaking about some Armenian schools, the author mentioned that the Persian language was also taught in those schools. In his work, Geghamiants mentioned translating masterpieces of Persian literature into Armenian and publishing them in Shushi. Geghamiants referred to the Persian sanctuaries in Shushi and around the city, he refers to the pilgrimage sites visited by the Persians. The information presented by Geghamiants is often found in other sources too, but the work of Geghamiants stands out for its free and natural simplicity. In that sense, it is instructive and highly relevant to value and research the information provided by this source.

Conceptualizing destination-community hospitality: an illustrated framework leveraging Persianate culture

PurposeBy adopting a cultural lens, this study aims to conceptualize destination-community hospitality to capture societal hospitality at the destination as an intangible asset. Destination-community hospitality comprises a set of attitudes and traits that are organically conveyed by community members and directly experienced by tourists. The paper contributes to efforts aimed at freeing hospitality from the confines of commercial lodging and food and beverage establishments.Design/methodology/approachThis study proposes an affection–attention–awareness (AAA) framework by drawing on the pertinent literature and leveraging the affective–behavioral–cognitive model of attitudinal change. It focuses on the effects of cognition in conceptualizing destination-community hospitality as the core of the framework. Methodologically, the framework is illustrated with qualitative data including observational fieldwork and interviews conducted in Iran.FindingsIllustration of the AAA framework in the context of Iran highlights how welcoming attitudes are leveraged at a destination as an ingrained community mindset even in the absence of formal initiatives or professional training. It underscores the hospitality advocacy role of local-community members irrespective of public-sector policy and capacity deficiencies.Practical implicationsDestinations that strive to attract tourists should tap into the significant wealth of intuitive hospitality within communities as an intangible resource. The ingenuity should be preserved to sustainably enhance the overall tourist experiences. The framework can serve as a guide to strategically facilitate destination-community hospitality.Originality/valueResearch on community-wide hospitality at destinations, as a major cultural asset in the context of strategic hospitality management, remains underdeveloped. With illustrative evidence, the findings elevate the critical role of community members as innate advocates of hospitality in developing destinations. The proposed framework of destination-community hospitality provides a new perspective and impetus for investigating hospitality beyond commercial domains.

Promoting adolescent mother self-efficacy for parenting roles, and self-care after childbirth: protocol for a mixed methods study

BackgroundPregnancy, and childbirth can encounter many challenges for the teen mother, family, and health system. The simultaneity of two transition periods, i.e. transition to adulthood and post-partum period may disrupt the acceptance of new roles. Lack of knowledge, information and life skills in managing this situation may threaten the physical and mental health of the mother, and child, as well as reduce the level of role adaptation. One way to increase women's empowerment in postpartum care is self-efficacy promotion training program. The current mixed methods study will be conducted to provide an interventional program sensitive to the culture of the Iranian society for adolescent mothers to improve their self-efficacy.MethodThis study will be conducted as an exploratory sequential mixed methods study (Qual-quan) based on a pragmatism paradigm in four phases. In the first phase, a qualitative study will be performed using a directed content analysis method to explore the needs and strategies related to promote postpartum self-efficacy from the viewpoint of teen mothers, their family, healthcare providers, and policymakers. In the second phase, using a scoping review, self-efficacy promotion strategies, and postpartum care service packages, programs, guidelines, and protocols in other countries will be identified. In the third phase, with integrating the results of qualitative phase and scoping review, the first draft of program will be developed, and validated by an expert panel based on the Delphi approach in three rounds. In the last step, the effectiveness of the interventional program will be evaluated on postpartum self-efficacy of teen mother.DiscussionDeveloping an interventional program that includes teen mother’s experiences, evidence based practice principles, and health staff opinions in a distinct cultural and social context can supply new direction to lead manager, policymakers, and other health care provider to improve the maternal self-efficacy in infant, family, and self-care with considering their age characteristics.

Application of “Partnership Care Model” in chronically ill adults and children: A systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Background“Partnership Care Model (PCM)”, which is the first partnership conceptual framework founded on the Iranian culture to control chronic diseases, has been recently used in different fields of nursing research with no levels of valid evidence to support its application. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis sought to clarify the impacts of interventions developed based on PCM on quality of life (QoL), sleep quality, anxiety, and depression among adults and children with chronic diseases. MethodsInternational data sources (e.g., PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus) and national databases (e.g., SID, MagIran, IranDoc, IRCT) were searched from 2001 to September 23, 2023, to find Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) on PCM-driven interventions for the experimental groups versus no intervention or standard care groups. The studies' methodological quality and evidence quality were rated utilizing the Cochrane risk of bias instruction and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE). Data were pooled by a random-effects approach employing STATA (vers. 11.2). ResultEighteen RCTs, reported in 22 publications, were qualified. The PCM compared to the standard care significantly improved the QoL among both adults (10 effect sizes [ESs], mean difference [MD]: 3.17, P < 0.001) and children (4 ESs, MD: 4.45, P < 0.001). Likewise, the intervention enhanced adults' sleep quality (3 ESs, MD: 7.15, P < 0.001). The anxiety of adults and children was also significantly lower in the PCM group (4 ESs, MD: −4.52, P = 0.001; 2 ESs, MD: −4.04, P < 0.001, respectively). However, regarding depression, a significant effect of PCM was found only among children (3 ESs, MD: −7.99, P = 0.011). The methodological quality of the studies and the evidence quality were undesirable. ConclusionThe PCM had a promising influence on the caring of adults and children suffering from chronic diseases. However, additional high-quality RCTs are needed to generate a higher quality of evidence concerning the clinical benefits of the PCM. PROSPERO noCRD42021253790.

Discourse Analysis of Social Justice Policies in Post-Revolutionary Iran

: The article aims to analyze the discursive transformations of social justice to realize social welfare during five successive administrations in the Islamic Republic of Iran from 1981 to 2021. It analyzes institutional texts and official speeches by the presidents of each administration based on the discourse analysis method of Ernesto Laclau and Chantal Mouffe. The findings demonstrate that each government differently articulated the signifier of justice in its social policies. However, the central signification was tied to ‘poverty eradication’ in all five administrations. However, social justice was not considered a comprehensive discourse nor an inclusive strategic process, but rather was defined discursively by each government as a government-oriented project in a short-term perspective, mainly by reducing social justice to economic growth and redistribution of resources. Finally, according to the comprehensive discourse of the Islamic Revolution, I suggest the need to redefine social justice as the aim of realizing social welfare in Iranian society with regard to the comprehensive, multi-dimensional definition of justice which include: (1) equal access to resources and opportunities by providing backgrounds, range and scope for such opportunities; (2) considering the principle of entitlement and necessities; and (3) attention to redistributive justice and expansion of the government’s sup portive umbrella by focusing on the vulnerable and disadvantaged groups (social, physical and mental).

Feeling of Insecurity and Hope in the Future: Case Study of Tehran

In recent decades, Iranian society has experienced rapid socio-economic changes that seriously affect feelings of hope in the future (HF) among social groups, especially in metropolitan areas such as Tehran. This study on HF, which I conducted in 2019, provides a gender analysis of HF for Tehran residents based on selected demographic variables and indicators of socio-economic and psychological insecurities. It also analyzes organizational and public trust by applying the Classification and Regression Trees (CART). I selected the participants from different areas of Tehran: 590 men and 610 women out of a population of 4,839,249 (3,054,715 men and 1,784,534 women) using two-stage stratified sampling with Probability Proportional to Size (PPS), and I completed with them structured questionnaires. The results showed that HF of Tehran residents is correlated with their gender (P-value = 0.033). Thus, two distinct trees with over 60% accuracies were fitted. Three influential variables on men’s HF were age, socio-economic insecurity, and public trust. Young men had higher HF than older ones.

Culture, Gender, and Aggression in Psychodynamic Group Therapy: A Case of a Male-Only Group with Female Leaders in Iran

ABSTRACT The article focuses on a male-only therapy group that has been functioning for the last nine years in the Middle East, in Iran. The group has a permanent main female therapist and temporary, mostly female trainee cotherapists. We explore culturally specific factors that we believe impact expressions of aggression in the group. These factors include the Iranian gender segregation culture, the ideal of masculinity relating to the concept of “Gheirat” (moral vigilance), the legal acceptance of multiple wives in Iran (which often leads to family instability), and the cultural belief about the uncontrollability of sexual desires in men. We also comment on the role of a common dynamic in Iranian families, in which the relationships between mothers and sons are usually overwhelming while the emotional relationships between parents are somehow restrained. We close by discussing future directions for this area of study as well as by proposing interventions therapists may consider when encountering related group dynamics.

Sociology of Rival Music Genres and Music Consumption in Post-1979 Revolution Iranian Society

This article examines the genesis of and competition among rival music genres in post-revolutionary Iran. Rival genres (pop music, rap music, rock music, traditional music, etc.) are genres that gradually emerged and developed since the 1920s. Relying on Pierre Bourdieu’s theory of cultural field I point out the important music genres in post-revolutionary Iran that act as a means of expressing conflict over the borders of the field, and why in this field, contrary to Bourdieu’s theory, instead of a bipolar situation, a multi-genre situation prevails. Then, with the data obtained from my previous research and that of others who mostly live in Iran, I try to depict a picture of music consumption based on the rival music genres in the field and show how, contrary to the ideals and slogans of the Islamic Revolution, under the influence of global youth culture, the consumption of popular music has become the dominant consumption.

A qualitative exploration of the psychological needs of women survivors of rape in Iran

BackgroundRape is one of the principal forms of sexual violence leading to numerous psychological consequences for women. Providing effective psychological services to women survivors of rape requires identifying and considering their real needs. This study aimed to explore the psychological needs of women survivors of rape.MethodsIn this exploratory-descriptive qualitative study, the participants consisted of 19 women survivors of rape and 20 people with experience in providing services to survivors of rape, selected via purposive sampling method in Isfahan, Iran. In-depth individual semi-structured interviews and field notes were used to collect data, which were then analyzed using the conventional content analysis method.ResultsBased on the analysis of the interviews, the psychological needs of women survivors of rape were classified into three main categories: facing psychological problems, attention to emotional reactions, and the need to accept and adapt to reality.ConclusionsThe results revealed that women survivors of rape have different psychological needs. Thus, to meet these needs, supportive and psychological interventions can be considered at both individual and environmental levels. Also, eliminating gender stereotypes affecting the occurrence of rape in the dimensions of Iranian culture can lead to the liberation of the society from the culture of rape.

Psychometric evaluation of the Persian version of the European Health Literacy Instrument (P-HLS-EU-Q47).

Health literacy is one of the most critical determinants of health for effectively improving health services and reducing health inequalities. The importance of accurate measurement cannot be overstated. The European 47-item Health Literacy Questionnaire (HLS-EU-Q47) can provide precise measurements of health literacy. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the European Health Literacy Instrument in Iranian society (HLS-PV-Q47) for its Persian version. This cross-sectional study was conducted using a convenient sampling of 560 people referred to comprehensive healthcare centers. The construct validity was assessed by exploratory (280 people) and confirmatory factor (with 280 people). The internal consistency was calculated using Cronbach's alpha coefficients. Based on the exploratory factor analysis, three factors of healthcare, disease prevention, and health promotion explained 48.9% of the total variance of health literacy. Cronbach's alpha was 0.96 for the whole instrument. The Persian version of the European Health Literacy Instrument (P-HLS-EU-Q47) had good validity and reliability, which can be used in future studies due to its good psychometric properties.

PB0281 Establishment of a National Patient-Based Pediatric Thrombosis Registry by Iranian Society of Thrombosis and Hemostasis

PB0281 Establishment of a National Patient-Based Pediatric Thrombosis Registry by Iranian Society of Thrombosis and Hemostasis

Examination of Cultural Components of Spouse Selection Based on Iranian Culture: A Qualitative Study

Introduction: Among the ways to improve the culture and values of Islamic society in Iran is identifying and introducing important components of spouse selection. Understanding these components can lead to the selection of a suitable spouse and prevent common mistakes in this area. Therefore, the present study aims to examine educational components of spouse selection in Iranian society.&#x0D; Methods: This qualitative study had an exploratory-descriptive nature and used the grounded theory and systematic Strauss and Corbin methods simultaneously to collect, execute, and analyze data. The research population included all family counselors, faculty members, and managers of counseling centers involved in marriage education and counseling in Yazd in 2022. Therefore, 32 participants were selected using purposive sampling as the research sample. The data was collected through semi-structured interviews which were recorded.&#x0D; Results: The results of open coding showed that out of 254 extracted propositions, 27 concepts were obtained in the form of 11 categories. Through axial coding, 5 main components (awareness of the philosophy of marriage, smart selection, literacy about marriage, rational-emotional strategies, and valuable style of marriage) were identified by integrating and connecting the categories. Selective coding also presented its final theory by designing a paradigmatic framework in a diagrammatic form.&#x0D; Conclusion: Identifying dimensions and components of spouse selection can facilitate the assessment and evaluation of young individuals on the brink of marriage by pre-marital counselors and couple therapists. This will help the young people make vital and important decisions in choosing a life partner.

Persian orientalism: Raciolinguistic ideologies and the construction of ‘Iranianness’

AbstractThis article excavates the Eurocentric roots of Iranian nationalist discourse, which emerged from the political and intellectual trajectories of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Premised on the epistemic privilege of the Persian language, a selective remembrance of the past, and forging an internal Other, I contend that this raciolinguistic ideology equated Persianness with Iranianness and naturalised Persian as both a language and a race. I begin by tracing the origin of Iranianness or Irāniyat: a concept coined by Mirza Fath'Ali Akhundzadeh and Mirza Aqa Khan Kermani, two influential figures in late Qajar Iran, whose writings introduced and disseminated the Eurocentric and Orientalist view of the non‐Persian Other. In the second section, I examine how the Berlin Circle, a group of Iranian nationalist intellectuals in the early 20th century, elaborated these ideas into a coherent racial and political ideology that later informed the Pahlavis' state‐building project in 1925. The last section of the article engages with the recent neologism of the ‘Persianate World’, an intellectual enterprise imbued with an Orientalist predisposition that aims to inscribe a trans‐border and transcultural quality to Persian culture far beyond its current boundaries, encompassing Eurasia and Central Asia.

Iran-Arab Relations: A Brief History and the Present in the Conditions of the Western Issued Global Disorder

Iranians identify themselves with the Aryans, heirs of the great empires of Achaemenids and Sassanids, poets — philosophers of the Middle Ages — Saadi, Hafez, Ferdowsi, Khayyam, recognized throughout the world. The state religion of Iran is Shiism. The Arabs, who imposed Islam, destroyed the Persian civilization. Being Sunnis, they do not recognize Iran's leadership in the Shiite community and, moreover, in the Muslim world, they seek to restrain Tehran's ambitions, they consider Shiism a heresy. At the same time, the Iranians, like the Arabs, were aware and understand now the need for normal constructive relations that correspond to the Middle East and international realities. In this context, the countries of the Near and Middle East came to the conclusion that in the current conditions of geopolitical and economic turmoil that arose as a result of the war of the West against Russia, one should independently, by joint efforts, achieve long-term stability and sustainable economic development. In order to solve this problem, it was important to overcome the confrontation between two infl uential regional powers — Iran and Saudi Arabia. China, which has signifi cant fi nancial and technological resources and enjoys international prestige, was chosen as a partner and mediator. Russia also played a positive role, maintaining mutually benefi cial ties with both Iran and the Arab states. On March 10 2023 in Peking an agreement was reached between Tehran and Riyadh to restore diplomatic relations. The Iranian-Saudi reconciliation caused a positive reaction and led to the advancement of the solution of the Syrian, Yemeni and other problems, the stabilization of the situation in Iraq and Lebanon. It is difficult to predict how the situation in the Middle East will develop, but the Arabs' desire for independence and their rapprochement with Iran is in Russia's interests.

Internet Addiction and Sleep Disorders among Medical Students.

Considering the increasing use of the Internet in Iranian society, especially among students, and the importance of sleep quality, the present study investigated the relationship between sleep quality and Internet addiction among medical students in Shiraz. In this descriptive-analytical study, the sample included students of the Shiraz University of Medical Sciences who were selected by a multistage sampling method in 2018. Each faculty was considered to be stratified, and the samples were selected from all strata by simple random sampling. A total of 400 student questionnaires were eligible for analysis. The level of sleep disturbance was measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and Young's Internet Addiction Test (IAT) was used to evaluate Internet addiction. Cronbach's alpha for PSQI and IAT was 0.77 and 0.93, respectively. 109 (%28.9) and 58 (%14.4) of all the people under study were at risk of Internet addiction or poor sleep quality, respectively. The highest percentage of poor sleep quality was in those who were addicted to the Internet (60%), but the lowest percentage was observed in the group without addiction (27%). In addition, there was a significant correlation between Internet addiction and subjective sleep quality (r = 0.191, p = 0.05), sleep latency (r = 0.129, p = 0.01), sleep duration (r = 0.119, p = 0.01), habitual sleep efficiency (r = 0.186, p = 0.05), sleep disturbances (r = 0.169, p = 0.01), use of sleeping medication (r = 0.203, p = 0.05), and daytime dysfunction (r = 0.188, p = 0.05). These findings help national health officials and planners in Iran to design appropriate and effective interventions to improve students' health and prevent Internet addiction.