Divorce, a Bitter Experience of Deprivation and Separation or a Window Towards Liberation: An Analysis of the Lived Experiences of Divorced Women in Rasht City

Document Type : Original Research

Authors

Abstract
Divorce is a social and multidimensional phenomenon influenced by cultural, economic, and psychological factors, and in the city of Rasht due to its ethnic and cultural diversity it holds particular significance. This study aimed to explore the lived experiences of divorced women and to identify the contextual conditions, causes, and consequences of divorce. The present research was conducted using a qualitative approach grounded in Grounded Theory. Data were collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews with 20 divorced women and continued, using purposive and snowball sampling, until theoretical saturation was achieved. Data analysis was carried out through open, axial, and selective coding. The findings revealed that contextual conditions such as cultural differences, economic vulnerability, early age at marriage, and insufficient premarital knowledge created a foundation for marital conflicts, while causal factors including domestic violence, addiction, sexual problems, and infidelity directly led to divorce. In addition, family interference intensified the divorce process, whereas transformations in social values and family support increased its acceptance. Easier divorce emerged as a combined outcome of changing social attitudes, mismatched expectations within marriage, and new approaches toward divorce. These factors have contributed to a reduction in the social stigma associated with divorce and to its greater acceptance within society. Changes in social values such as increased acceptance of consensual divorce and the decline of divorce-related stigma enable women to consider divorce as a legitimate and acceptable solution. Some employed women without children perceive divorce as an opportunity for independence and the redefinition of their lives.

Keywords



Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 22 June 2026

  • Receive Date 05 February 2026
  • Accept Date 22 June 2026
  • Publish Date 22 June 2026