Document Type : Research Paper
Author
Assistant Professor, Department of Women's Studies, Allameh Tabataba'i University, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
"In Iranian society, considerable importance is placed on the family as a vital social and cultural institution. However, despite this emphasis, official statistics indicate a notable increase in divorce rates among families.""The family, as an institution in our country, is undeniably facing significant challenges. The alarming surge in divorce cases over the past years serves as a clear indicator of the distressed state of family dynamics". "Divorce symbolizes the breakdown of the family unit, often resulting in enduring and irrevocable consequences. This phenomenon, akin to a lethal virus, infiltrates the foundational institution of society—the family—and claims a substantial number of victims on a daily basis". "The primary objective of this qualitative study is to explore the underlying reasons behind the decision to divorce among families in Tehran. It employs a descriptive phenomenological approach with thematic analysis as the research method.""Thematic analysis is a six-step methodology encompassing the following stages: familiarization with the data, coding, theme generation, theme evaluation and refinement, theme definition and naming, and report writing". "The study's statistical population comprises married individuals who sought divorce through Tehran's family courts in 1401. A purposeful sampling method was employed, leading to in-depth, semi-structured interviews conducted with 37 participants". "In the data analysis process, initial coding was followed by the extraction of primary and secondary themes. The research findings are presented under two overarching categories: 'warning signs of divorce' and 'factors contributing to separation. Essentially, certain factors may serve as warning signs of impending divorce if experienced by couples at any stage of their marital journey. Conversely, specific events can escalate marital conflicts and increase the likelihood of separation, which can be categorized as triggers or catalysts for divorce.
Keywords: Marriage, Divorce, Divorce Catalysts, Separation Decision- Making, Divorced Women.
Introduction:"In Iranian society, considerable importance is placed on the family as a vital social and cultural institution. However, despite this emphasis, official statistics indicate a notable increase in divorce rates among families. "The family, as an institution in our country, is undeniably facing significant challenges. The alarming surge in divorce cases over the past years serves as a clear indicator of the distressed state of family dynamics."
"Divorce symbolizes the breakdown of the family unit, often resulting in enduring and irrevocable consequences. This phenomenon, akin to a lethal virus, infiltrates the foundational institution of society—the family—and claims a substantial number of victims on a daily basis."
Materials and Methods: "The primary objective of this qualitative study is to explore the underlying reasons behind the decision to divorce among families in Tehran. It employs a descriptive phenomenological approach with thematic analysis as the research method. "Thematic analysis is a six-step methodology encompassing the following stages: familiarization with the data, coding, theme generation, theme evaluation and refinement, theme definition and naming, and report writing."
"The study's statistical population comprises married individuals who sought divorce through Tehran's family courts in 1401. A purposeful sampling method was employed, leading to in-depth, semi-structured interviews conducted with 37 participants."
Results: "In the data analysis process, initial coding was followed by the extraction of primary and secondary themes. The research findings are presented under two overarching categories: 'warning signs of divorce' and 'factors contributing to separation.' The first category comprises three main themes:" "The context of marriage formation encompasses the circumstances surrounding the establishment of the marital union. It involves three sub-themes:
Moreover, it comprises 14 additional sub-themes that contribute to the overall understanding of the marital context :
Escaping complicated family situations , Sacrificing family secrets to pursue marriage, Viewing marriage as a means to achieve dreams, Considering marriage as the sole source of happiness, Feeling pressured to marry to avoid being left behind by peers, Forming brief acquaintances at work and school, Developing long-term friendships that lead to marriage, Relying on family knowledge for spouse selection and trust surrounding marriage.
Experiencing emotional love and believing in destiny (love at first sight), Focusing on beauty and appearance in marriage decisions, Sharing common dreams and goals in life, Achieving genuine compatibility between mental dreams and marital reality, Describing marriage as a packaged watermelon, symbolizing the union of two individuals, Entering marriage with an idealized image of the relationship.
The second axis consists of three main categories: incentives and obstacles to divorce, igniting divorce by crossing boundaries, and the dissolution of "marriage" within a structured shared life. This axis encompasses 12 sub-themes, namely: Revealing the true nature of the spouse, Inadequate sexual life skills and dissatisfaction, Poor ability to navigate daily challenges in married life, Breaching moral boundaries, Substance abuse and addiction, Disregard for personal privacy, Protecting children from a stressful home environment, Experiencing disappointment in the marriage, Unsuccessful attempts at change and reconciliation, Losing the sense of partnership and shared life, Receiving counsel to pursue divorce and its legitimization Positive and negative influences from people in the couple's social circle.
Conclusion: The findings demonstrated that in the analysis of warning signs leading to divorce, couples frequently entered marital life without establishing compatibility and understanding in crucial aspects such as age, education, culture, religion, appearance, financial standing, and family background during the initial stages of their relationship or courtship. This lack of compatibility in these areas heightened the likelihood of couples experiencing insurmountable challenges upon cohabitation, ultimately increasing the risk of marital failure. The study further revealed that discrepancies between marital reality and an individual's prior expectations could lead to doubts about the relationship's longevity. As couples grew more familiar with each other's behavioral patterns, communication styles, and genuine thoughts over time, they began to question the viability of their marriage. In such cases, the removal of the metaphorical mask, unveiling the true nature of their spouse, placed the individual in an unanticipated situation for which they were unprepared before entering the marriage. Under these circumstances, the revelation of previously unknown moral characteristics, such as mistrust, pessimism, immoral behavior in men, or obstinacy in women, can leave an individual feeling helpless. This vulnerability often fosters an environment of mutual disrespect and humiliation, changes in religious beliefs, dominance and selfishness, as well as feelings of jealousy and competition between spouses.
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