Social Change and Change in Intentions of Iranian Youth Regarding Education, Marriage and Careers

Citation

Tashakkori, Abbas & Thompson, Vaida D. (1991). Social Change and Change in Intentions of Iranian Youth Regarding Education, Marriage and Careers. International Journal of Psychology, 26(2), 203-217.

Abstract

Effects of large-scale socio-political movements and policy changes on individual attitudes and behaviours have been the focus of attention of social scientists and policy-makers in different countries. For example, concerns have been expressed regarding the effects of the so-called “fundamentalist” Islamic movements on attitudes and behaviours in relation to marriage, family structure, and the roles/rights of women. The Islamic Revolution of 1978 in Iran is usually assumed to have affected such beliefs and behaviours. To test the accuracy of such an assumption, three data sets collected in the same geographical location in 1982, 1984, and 1986 were compared within sex and SES groups. The intentions and aspirations of high school seniors regarding education, marriage, and careers were closer to conservative/traditional expectations in the 1982 sample than in the 1984 and 1986 samples. It is concluded that, even if there was an increase in traditionalism shortly after the Revolution, traditional tendencies have not returned to extreme levels within the few years surveyed, at least among the urban educated youth under study. Alarm regarding a “return to fundamentalism” in relation to marriage, family, and women's roles/rights might be less warranted than is commonly assumed.

URL

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00207599108247887

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year Published

1991

Journal Title

International Journal of Psychology

Author(s)

Tashakkori, Abbas
Thompson, Vaida D.