Young Iranian Women Research Articles

Navigating Dating Violence: An Intersectional Analysis of Agency Among Young Iranian Immigrant Women

Women's agency in resisting violence and control within intimate relationships manifests in diverse forms, shaped by various social divisions and the socio-cultural contexts in which gender relations evolve. This research explores first-generation young Iranian immigrant women's responses to violence and control within their dating relationships in Canada. Employing an intersectional analysis, it delves into the multifaceted agency demonstrated by these women when confronting dating violence (DV). By contextualizing their agency within Collins's matrix of oppression, the study unveils how systems of oppression interlock to shape their agency. The findings underscored the substantial agency displayed by young women in asserting their self-determination and self-definition. This was evident in their ability to recognize the aggressor's controlling behaviors within their relationships and their outspoken critique of the deeply entrenched patriarchal and gendered norms prevailing in the dominant discourse within the Iranian community. The results underscore the pressing need for culturally sensitive interventions and education programs that move beyond mere DV awareness.

Folate gene polymorphisms CBS 844ins68 and RFC1 A80G and risk of Down syndrome offspring in young Iranian women: A cross-sectional study

Background: Cytogenetics and association studies showed that folate gene polymorphisms can increase the risk of chromosomal nondisjunction and aneuploidies. The folate-metabolizing gene polymorphisms in Down syndrome mothers (DSM) have been assessed in a variety of populations. Reduced folate carrier 1 (RFC1) and cystathionine beta-synthase (CBS) are key enzymes in folate metabolism.
 Objective: 2 common polymorphisms, CBS 844ins68 and RFC1 A80G, were analyzed to determine their probable risk for having Down syndrome (DS) babies in young mothers of Khuzestan province, Iran.
 Materials and Methods: This study was conducted on 100 mothers who had trisomy 21 DS children. 100 age- and ethnic-matched mothers with at least 2 healthy children and no history of abnormal pregnancies were considered as control. The samples were collected from all the mothers from June 2019 to April 2021. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood. The CBS-844ins68 and RFC1-A80G were genotyped using polymerase chain reaction-electrophoresis and restriction fragment length polymorphism, respectively.
 Results: The frequency of RFC1 AG and GG genotypes in DSM was significantly higher than the control mothers (odds ratio [OR] of 2.38 and 3.07, respectively). The heterozygote genotype of CBS 844ins68 was significantly more prevalent among DSM than the control (OR: 2.419). The OR was significantly increased to 6.667 when the homozygote of both variants was found together.
 Conclusion: Studying polymorphisms possibly increases the susceptibility of having a DS child. However, ethnicity, nutrition, and epistatic interactions are considerable factors to be evaluated in future studies.
 Key words: Down syndrome, Folic acid, Polymorphism, CBS, RFC1.

Iranian Obese Women’s Lived Experiences of Social and Linguistic Factors Shaping Emotional Eating Behavior: A Phenomenological Study

Background: Emotional eating is harmful to health and is highly prevalent in obese women. Hence, an awareness of factors underlying emotional eating is important for weight management and maintaining women’s health. Research evidence indicates that several factors contribute to emotional eating behavior. The present study aimed to explore obese young Iranian women’s lived experiences of social and linguistic factors shaping emotional eating behavior. Methods: This qualitative and hermeneutic phenomenological study was conducted on 17 young women living in Kermanshah or Karaj, Iran who experienced emotional eating and had a body mass index (BMI) of 30 and higher. The participants were selected using purposive sampling with maximum variation in terms of demographic characteristics. The data were collected through in-depth individual and face-to-face interviews and analyzed using Dickelman et al’s seven-step phenomenological approach. Results: The data analysis revealed that social and linguistic factors underlying emotional eating behavior can be explained by two themes including social influence and linguistic culture. Social influence further accounted for compensating for the stigma of thinness, relieving the stigma of obesity, group conformity, and following taboos to cope with sexual and emotional desires. In addition, linguistic culture was explained by two subthemes including associating grieving with eating and the metaphor of swallowing anger. Conclusion: Following the findings of the study, psychotherapy interventions can be planned to address emotional eating and weight management with a focus on the role of social influence and the effects of spoken language in the development of emotional eating behavior.

Development of self-care strategies to promote young Iranian women’s sexual health: an explanatory sequential mixed method study protocol

BackgroundIn contemporary Iran, the nation's traditional and deeply religious society is currently experiencing swift transformations in its moral, cultural, and social aspects. It is, therefore, not surprising to observe shifts in people's attitudes toward sexuality, largely attributed to the profound impact of widespread social networks, the proliferation of information technology, and increased levels of education. Unmarried young women may potentially face adverse consequences from engaging in extramarital sexual relationships across various aspects of their lives. Acknowledging the pivotal role of self-care in influencing the sexual behaviors of young women, the objective of this study is to compile a comprehensive list of self-care strategies aimed at improving the sexual well-being of young, single Iranian women.MethodsThe research will unfold in three distinct phases: Phase 1: Explanatory Sequential Mixed-Method Study This initial phase encompasses both quantitative and qualitative aspects. It begins with a cross-sectional survey, where we will gather data from 400 unmarried female students aged 18 to 29 years, utilizing a cluster random sampling method at Kerman University of Medical Sciences. Data collection will involve the use of a researcher-designed questionnaire. Subsequently, the qualitative phase will involve conducting in-depth, semi-structured interviews with female students from the University. To analyze this qualitative data, we will employ the content analysis approach. The findings obtained from both phases will be combined. Phase 2: Narrative Review In the second stage of the study, we will conduct an extensive narrative review to explore existing strategies related to the subject matter comprehensively. This review will serve as the foundational basis for our subsequent analysis. Phase 3: Strategy Prioritization In the final phase, we will prioritize the proposed strategies using a nominal group process, soliciting expert advice. This step will result in the definitive list of strategies that emerge from the study.DiscussionThis study pioneers the field of sexual health, with the goal of developing a protocol for creating self-care strategies based on the perspectives of young, unmarried Iranian women. It offers potential evidence-based insights into current developments in the physical, psychological, and social aspects of sexual health within this demographic. Additionally, it aims to furnish essential information to healthcare policymakers regarding the sexual health of young women.

Dimensions of Post-Traumatic Growth Resulting from Parental Divorce among Young Iranian Women

Parental divorce affects various behavioral, emotional, social, and academic outcomes, and children from divorced families are more likely to experience problems in their lives. This present study aimed to explore the dimensions of post-traumatic growth resulting from divorce parental among young Iranian women. A total of 20 young women living in Tehran, Iran, whose parents were divorced participated in this research. The data were collected by a semi-structured interview and analyzed by Marton’s proposed method. The findings of this phenomenography study revealed five outcome spaces of post-traumatic growth. Categories of description included post-traumatic growth in the behavioral dimension, academic-occupational dimension, spiritual dimension, ethnic relationships dimension, and meaning of life dimension. According to the findings, in Iranian society, culture, ethnicity, and religion play an important role in growth after divorce. In general, if they are mature and mentally prepared, they can cope with their parents’ divorce and grow in different domains.

Transnational Iranian poetics of resistance: the Green Movement and Iranian women’s agency in Sepideh Farsi’s Red Rose (2014)

ABSTRACT Mobilizing Gilles Deleuze and Felix Guattari’s concept of “becoming-revolutionary,” this article aims to address the relative absence of film studies scholarship on Iranian diasporic women’s cinema and transnational Iranian poetics of resistance. More specifically, it examines the role of female agency during Iran’s 2009 Green Movement in Sepideh Farsi’s, arguing that Farsi’s portrayal of a young Iranian woman’s progressive politics and sexual emancipation foregrounds connections between Iranian national and diasporic politics and poetics of female resistance. Formally, the film interweaves videos of the Green Movement made by anonymous protesters with intimate fictional narrative, allowing the two modes of storytelling to coalesce in their use of politicized bodies resisting the hegemonic ideological discourses of the state. I argue that the film’s textual hybridity emphasizes the role of “raw” protesters’ footage as an example of “minor” video, in the Deleuzian-Guattarian sense, in an effort to encompass and preserve the fragmented yet assertive voices of the Iranian civil rights movement and struggle for democracy.

An Exceptional Occurrence of Uterus Mullerian Adenosarcoma in a Young Iranian Woman

An Exceptional Occurrence of Uterus Mullerian Adenosarcoma in a Young Iranian Woman

An Exceptional Occurrence of Uterus Mullerian Adenosarcoma in a Young Iranian Woman

An Exceptional Occurrence of Uterus Mullerian Adenosarcoma in a Young Iranian Woman

Damsels in distress: manufacturing ‘Lolitas’ for the West in Azar Nafisi’s Reading Lolita in Tehran

ABSTRACT When Azar Nafisi’s Reading Lolita in Tehran was first published in 2003, it was widely acclaimed as a narrative that exemplified the ‘oppression’ of Iranian/Muslim women in post-revolutionary Iran. More importantly, Western critics were quick to praise the text as a testament to the significance of teaching Western literature as a liberating medium for young Iranian women. This paper, however, argues that Nafisi’s representation of the Iranian ‘woman question’ operates within the paradigm of the neo-Orientalist discourse, particularly rejuvenated in the post-9/11 political landscape. More specifically, it will be demonstrated that the representation of Iranian/Muslim women in the narrative is informed by the convergence of Orientalist feminism and feminist Orientalism. As such, the narative serves to further marginalize, silence, and oppress women by demonizing Muslim women, erasing significant historico-political contexts, misrepresenting and oversimplifying the question of the veil, and subjecting Iranian women to a colonial gaze in a quasi-haremesque space.

The Prevalence of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus in Pregnant Women Referred to Amir al-Mu'minin Hospital of Gerash City, Fars Province, Iran

Background and Aims: The increasing number of pregnant women being diagnosed as having gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and lead health care providers to develop reliable screening protocols and know the exact worldwide epidemiology of the disease. This study seeks to obtain data that will help to improve the epidemiologic knowledge about this disease. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on 953 pregnant women seeking routine prenatal screening tests. Participants participate with using Carpenter-Coustan criteria in the study. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software. Results and Conclusions: Among 953 pregnant women , 38 participants (4%) were detected to have GDM . Fifty percent of patients in the study were overweight .The data showed a significant difference in the mean age between the diabetic and non-diabetic groups. The high prevalence of GDM in young Iranian pregnant women may emphasize the need for early diagnosis and treatment to avoid adverse outcomes associated with GDM.

Cosmetic use and serum level of lead (not cadmium) affect bone mineral density among young Iranian women.

Bone mineral density is a crucially important index for skeletal health. A low amount of bone density (osteoporosis) is a common health problem among men and especially women. Among different parts of the body, women's face is the area on which many types of (facial) cosmetics are routinely applied. The aims of this study were to measure the association of cosmetic use with BMD of the lumbar spine and femoral neck among young female students. This is a cross-sectional study on 65 female students in the 2017 academic year. The study participants were students at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences who were selected randomly using phone directory sampling method. Based on the results of multiple linear regression, adjusted for several important covariates, cosmetic use is inversely associated with the BMD z-scores. Lead was significantly associated with trochanteric z-score (B = -0.002to 95% CI = -0.004 to -0.0003, p = 0.02) and total lumbar z-score (B = -0.002to 95% CI = -0.004 -0.0005, p = 0.01). In the present study, duration of using cosmetics was significantly associated with BMD of key skeletal regions. The big market of cosmetics in many countries especially those in the Middle East is highly a vastly neglected health issue. Many more observational prospective or interventional studies are required to understand the benefits and hazards caused by cosmetics in women.

Designing a model of physical activities of Iranian young women

Although the physical activity of young women in Iran is very important, but this phenomenon is less well known. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to design a conceptual model of sports activities of Iranian young women (20-40 old). The methodology of research was qualitative method, Grounded Theory (systematic approach). The study population consisted of Iranian women aged 20-40 years participating in sports activities. Based on the methodology of research, sampling method was theoretical sampling method and theoretical saturation was obtained after conduct 27 interviews with Iranian young women participating in sports activities and review specialized texts (articles, books, websites and so on). The data analysis methods were questions and continuous comparison. In the open coding stage, seven main categories in the process of participating sports activities Iranian young women were identified: (1)Personal Motivations, (2)Promotional Measures, (3)Challenges, (4)Sports Facilities, (5)Trainer, (6)Safety & Security, and (7)Sports activities Benefits. Findings show that and promotional actions are the primary motivators for young women to engage in physical activity, but facilities, coach and safety and security play a vital role in decision-making and participation in physical activity, and if conditions be right, young women will continue to participate in physical activities. Given that young Iranian women face many challenges, only those with very strong personal motivations participate in physical activities.

Abnormal anti-Müllerian hormone level may be a trigger for breast cancer in young women: A case-control study.

BackgroundAnti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) is a known sensitive biomarker for fertility and ovarian reserve. The results of in vivo and human studies showed inconsistency with respect to the relation between AMH and breast cancer.Objective To compare the AMH level of young Iranian women with early breast cancer who have not received any treatment compared to that of healthy women.Materials and MethodsIn this case-control study, 58 breast cancer cases were recruited from the breast oncology clinic of two university hospitals. They were diagnosed with an in situ or invasive breast cancer before any anticancer treatment between August 2018 and April 2019. Healthy controls (n = 58) were selected from women referred to a gynecologic outpatient clinic without any symptoms of cancer or infertility. AMH was measured by the AMH enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits in one laboratory.ResultsFinal analysis showed that the AMH means of case and control were not statistically significant (3.36 2.95 vs 3.13 1.79). However, the lower and higher AMH level categories are more prevalent in breast cancer compared to the control. Pearson's correlation test showed that the AMH level was negatively correlated with age (r = -0.44, p 0.001). The results of logistic regression analysis considering confounding factors showed the positive association between breast cancer and lower (Odds Ratio [OR] = 5.98, p = 0.02) and higher quartile of AMH level (OR = 4.95, p = 0.01).ConclusionOur results suggest that abnormal AMH level is more frequent in young breast cancer patients. Further investigation considering AMH determinants is required.

Young women living in Iran: gendered drivers influencing social participation and wellbeing

ABSTRACT This paper investigates the social participation and wellbeing outcomes of young Iranian women, using a concurrent mixed method. Findings demonstrated relatively low levels of structural and functional social support as well as low level of social participation at the community level, particularly local and national group participation compared with casual/informal group participation. The individuals who socialized more with friends, relatives, colleagues, neighbours, as well as those with higher civic participation, were more likely to report higher wellbeing, as measured through satisfaction with life, quality of life and healthier lifestyle behaviours. The most common themes regarding barriers to social participation included: lack of time, money, cultural and societal barriers such as low socialization/leisure opportunities/infrastructure in the neighbourhood, lack of community/civic groups, lack of the culture of volunteering/volunteer jobs and low level of trust in society. This study suggests that women are further united and focus on their internal power through challenging gender bias and creating a culture of transformational change; which, in turn, lends itself to positive well-being outcomes. Furthermore, studies are required among Iranian men, how they can advocate for women’s rights and reconstruction of the gendered systems for the interest of both genders.

Riding the Korean Wave in Iran

Abstract This study explores the Korean Wave and fandom in the Islamic Republic of Iran. It follows Iranian women’s consumption of Korean popular culture in the context of their general pop-culture consumption patterns and how they create a fan culture through social media and pop culture. This study is based on data collected through anthropological fieldwork in Tehran. User-generated content on social media, such as Telegram and Instagram, was used to examine how young Iranian women are actively leading the fandom culture through their daily fan-related activities and how, in doing so, they forge a sense of solidarity with other women and global fans. The fandom phenomenon of the Iranian Muslim women shows how youth can effect social change in Iran while demonstrating that it is possible to trace the cultural changes taking place in Iran.

Young Iranian women as agents of social change: A qualitative study

ObjectivesLimited studies have investigated detailed insights into the experiences of women in transitioning countries such as Iran as active agents in their lives and their societies. This study explores how young Iranian women build and use their social capital to make a social change and improve their status. MethodsThis study is the qualitative component of a larger mixed-method study exploring social capital and wellbeing in young Iranian women. Semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted with 17 young Iranian women aged 18–35. This data was supplemented with the open-ended responses provided by 87 of 391 participants in the quantitative phase of the study. Thematic analysis based on the Giorgi method was used for data analysis. ResultsTwo major themes that emerged from the data included “multiple identities” and “young women as agents of social change”, with more emphasis on the latter. Four main strategies were used by young Iranian women to enact social change and improve their position. These included building digital freedom, generating a new style of dressing, creating leisure opportunities, and changing social and sexual relationships. ConclusionsThis study provides new insights into the necessity of moving away from simply looking at women as powerless victims within paternalistic societies to exploring their potential as agents of social change. Understanding the ways young Iranian women perceive themselves, their roles in society and their experience of enacting social change and building new social identities yields deeper insights into their expectations for transformational change.

Are young Iranian women with metabolically healthy obesity at increased risk of CVD incidence?

BackgroundThe association between the Metabolically Healthy Obese (MHO) phenotype in the absence of metabolic syndrome and subsequent cardiovascular disease remains unclear.ObjectivesWe examined the association between MHO and CVD risk in young Iranian women.MethodsWe studied 183 women aged 20-35 years from a population of 308 candidates. We classified participants into 4 phenotypes. We measured body composition, blood pressure, and biochemical factors in all participants.ResultsThe Metabolically Healthy Normal Weight (MHNW) and Normal Weight Obese (NWO) phenotypes had no statistical differences in any biochemistry variables. FBS, TG, LDL/HDL, Cholesterol/HDL, hs-CRP, and atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) were all higher in Metabolically Unhealthy Obese (MUO) than MHO individuals, whereas HDL was higher in MHO than in MUO individuals. LDL/HDL and hs-CRP were higher in MHO participants than MHNW participants, whereas HDL-c was higher in MHNW than MHO.ConclusionsResults of the present study demonstrate that young women displaying the MHO phenotype have a favorable metabolic profile as shown by lower FBS, TG, LDL-c/HDL, Cho/HDL, hs-CRP, and AIP and higher HDL levels than the MUO phenotype. However, MHO individuals were still at greater risk of CVD incidence (lower HDL and higher hs-CRP levels) than MHNW individuals.

Engage In or Refrain From? A Qualitative Exploration of Premarital Sexual Relations Among Female College Students in Tehran

This study explored the factors that educated young Iranian women consider when they decide whether to have premarital sex. Using a purposive sampling method, 30 in-depth interviews were conducted with female college students in both government and private universities in Tehran in 2005–2006. The respondents included unmarried women who had experienced sexual relations, unmarried women who had abstained, and married women. Young women’s considerations for premarital sex included (1) marriage meaning and motivations; (2) compliance with family values and expectations; (3) perceived gender and social norms of premarital sex; (4) importance of religiosity; and (5) sexual knowledge and self-efficacy. Marriage meaning and motivation seem to be the central pillar in the complex decision to engage in or refrain from premarital sex among female college students. These considerations have theoretical implications for understanding premarital relationships and sex in a conservative setting. Finally, some shifts are occurring in the meaning of marriage and sexual mores among educated young women in Iran; these changes are discussed.

Nonviolence Communication to Reduce Stress, Anxiety and Depression in Young Iranian Women: A Randomized Experiment

Stress is one of the important dimensions of social communication that directly and indirectly affect anxiety management or depression. In the meantime, adolescents and especially girls are more likely to be harmed in poor and vulnerable communities. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of group training with non-violence communication (NVC) method on stress, anxiety and depression of young girls. The target community in this research was 50 participants that were randomly selected from the charity centers of Tehran suburbs. Participants were randomly divided and placed equally into the experimental and control groups. The study entry criteria were students aged from 11 to 18 years, the vulnerable socio-economic income and the stress cut off point as 12. Eight training sessions of NVC were presented for the experimental group between the pre-test and post-test intervals, while no intervention was performed for the control group. Data collection instruments were depression, anxiety and stress scale (Dass-21) and participants were followed up after 1 month. After statistical analysis, the effectiveness of the training was investigated through analysis of repeated major variance. Eventually, the results showed a significant difference between the experimental and control groups (p < .001). The findings of the study showed that NVC training reduces stress and anxiety levels, but it did not affect depression in young girls who are vulnerable socially and economically.

Dietary Habits and Physical Activity are Associated With the Risk of Breast Cancer Among Young Iranian Women: A Case-control Study on 1010 Premenopausal Women

BackgroundSeveral studies conducted in developed countries introduced diet and physical inactivity as major risk factors for several types of cancers. However, the impact of diet and physical inactivity on the risk of breast cancer (BC) is understudied, and the limited findings are controversial. In addition, no or limited knowledge is available from the developing world. Patients and MethodsThis case-control study was performed from November 2014 to March 2016 on 1010 young women aged 20 to 50 years who were newly diagnosed with BC. Data was obtained via a validated questionnaire and the global physical activity questionnaire (GPAQ2). Also, patients’ medical and histopathology reports were reviewed. ResultsThe results of multiple logistic regression suggested that, except for the common risk factors for BC (older marital age, family history of BC, smoking, and being a passive smoker), eating red meat (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] >8 portions/week [p/w] vs. 0-2 p/w, 1.15; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04-1.28); eating fish (aOR >8 p/w vs. 0-2 p/w, 1.55; 95% CI, 1.12-2.76), fruit consumption (aOR 0-4 p/w vs. >8 p/w, 1.96; 95% CI, 1.07-3.82), pickle consumption (aOR >8 p/w vs. 7-8 p/w, 1.46; 95% CI, 1.31-1.70), and intensity of physical activity (aOR light vs. vigorous, 1.68; 95% CI, 1.47-1.98) were directly associated with a higher risk of BC in young women. ConclusionOur study supported the hypothesis that unhealthy dietary habits and physical inactivity are risk factors for BC. We found that a healthy diet containing low fat and high fruits and vegetables with regular exercise are effective ways to reduce the risk of BC among young women.