Social Problems of Iran

Towards a Grounded Theory on Celibacy among Girls in Gachsaran

Authors

Hakimeh Konari 1
Maryam Mokhtari 2
Siroos Ahmadi 3

1 PhD Student in Social Problems of Iran, Department of Social Sciences, Yasuj University, Yasuj, Iran

2 Associate Professor of Sociology, Department of Social Sciences, Yasuj University, Yasuj, Iran

3 Professor of Sociology, Department of Social Sciences, Yasuj University, Yasuj, Iran

https://doi.org/10.61882/jspi.16.3.193
Abstract
The social transformations occurring in today's world, particularly regarding the economic and social status of women, have turned their celibacy into a significant challenge. This qualitative study explores the celibacy in girls in Gachsaran. The target group consists of single girls aged 40 and above, who were selected through purposive sampling. Semi-structured, in-depth interviews were used for data collection. The grounded theory method based on the Corbin and Strauss model was employed to analyze the data. The collected data were coded in terms of open, axial, and selective coding. Based on the results of data analysis, 15 main categories were identified. These categories include internal turbulence, conflicting social network, concerns within the family, and intellectual challenges as “causal conditions”. The “intervening conditions” were found to be gaining social status and gaining economic status, while the “context conditions” included the rampancy of misandry among women in society, the dominance of traditional family norms, and economic barriers. “The strategies” to cope with these challenges were preoccupation, suppression of needs, and spirituality. Finally, “the consequences” of these challenges were the distortion of social relationships, individual morale, and personal and economic success. “Celibacy as a pervasive female challenge” emerged as the “core category” in this research. In fact, girls turn to education and career to fill the void in their lives but it is in conflict with the expectations of people around them in a traditional atmosphere, which in turn, creates a paradoxical experience of reconsidering and redefining gender roles.

Extended Abstract

Introduction:

Throughout history and across all human societies, the “Commonality of Marriage” constituted a foundational norm, wherein individuals, upon reaching biological and social maturity, invariably proceeded to marry and establish a family unit. The advent of the Industrial Revolution instigated profound transformations within the institution of the family. The family structure shifted from “Extended” to “Nuclear,” marriage evolved from a “Prescribed/Arranged” arrangement to one “Based on Love,” the role of “Women” was radically altered, and the “Divorce Rate” began to escalate. Nevertheless, another striking phenomenon has emerged: celibacy. While this phenomenon applies to both genders, given that women lose their reproductive capacity around the age of 40, it is posited that women remaining unmarried by this age may exhibit no future inclination towards marriage. Consequently, the pattern of celibacy is predominantly discussed as a significant social issue concerning women. Current societal transformations, particularly changes in the economic and social status of women, have rendered female singlehood a critical challenge. On one hand, the Iranian woman is symbolically recognized as the epitome of devotion to her spouse and offspring, while on the other hand, women’s pursuit of individual advancement and the construction of new identities increasingly distances them from these traditional institutions. Although the topic of celibacy has received some scholarly attention in large metropolitan areas, it presents distinct dimensions in smaller cities with more traditional contexts, which have been relatively overlooked. This research focuses on singlehood in Gachsaran. Located in the Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province, Gachsaran not only supplies 25% of the nation’s exported oil but also possesses a complex social fabric. This complexity stems from its multi-ethnic composition (comprising Persian, Lur, and Turk populations) where the residues of the dominant tribal-nomadic system intermingle with the influx of labor migrants employed in the petrochemical industry. Since “celibacy” introduces ambiguities within this society characterized by a dualistic traditional-modern context, the present study seeks to investigate the following research questions: 1) What are the causal, contextual, and intervening conditions leading to the singlehood of women in Gachsaran? 2) What experiences do single women report regarding their unmarried lives? 3) What are the agency and interaction strategies employed by these women in response to their single status? 4) What are the consequences of singlehood for these women?

2. Methodology

Given that the present study seeks to understand the conditions and consequences of singlehood life among women in the target community, it employs a Qualitative Research Method and the Grounded Theory Approach (GTA) to examine this phenomenon. The research participants were single women aged 40 and above residing in Gachsaran. A total of 13 eligible individuals were selected via Purposive Sampling until Theoretical Saturation was achieved. Data collection was carried out through In-depth Semi-Structured Interviews. For data analysis, the Grounded Theory method, specifically the Strauss and Corbin Paradigmatic Model with its Open, Axial, and Selective Coding strategies, was utilized. To ensure the Trustworthiness and reliability of the research, after the initial analysis, selected interviewees were re-engaged in discussion about the concepts derived from their interviews to confirm the researchers’ accurate understanding of their statements.

3. Findings

Employing the Strauss and Corbin Paradigmatic Model, the Causal, Intervening, and Contextual Conditions, alongside the Action/Interaction Strategies and Consequences related to women’s singlehood life, were extracted from the interviews. The data analysis resulted in the identification of 15 core categories. The categories of psychological distress, conflicting network of relationship, Intra-family Concerns, and mental challenges were discovered as “causal Conditions.” In this process, fear, feelings of doubt, and specific attitudes lead the individual toward preferring singlehood, resulting in a negative perception of marriage, especially since they have reached a state of social distrust towards the opposite sex within their social relations. These conditions, combined with internal family issues, dissuade them from marrying. Subsequently, acquisition of social status and acquisition of economic status were categorized as “intervening conditions.” This shows that women’s pursuit of education and skills unintentionally leads to the postponement of marriage. Furthermore, the prevalence of misandry in the social environment, the dominance of traditional norms within the family, and economic barriers were considered “contextual conditions.” The prevalence and persistence of traditional norms in some families narrow the scope for their daughters’ marriage, often rooted in high-tension situations such as domestic violence, poverty, parental divorce, or rigid traditional beliefs. Moreover, the prevalence of misandry in society creates an unfavorable social context where flawed marriage patterns are common, fostering women’s pessimism toward men. The categories of engagement, suppression of needs, and spiritualism were extracted as “Strategies.” Finally, disruption of social relationships, impairment of individual spirit, and individual and economic success were identified as “consequences.” The core category of the present research was identified as “celibacy as a female comprehensive challenge.”

4. Conclusion

The ultimate finding of this research is that women resort to academic and occupational activities to fill the vacuum in their lives. However, this action conflicts with the expectations of those around them within a traditional environment, which in turn leads to the experience of a Paradox of reflexivity and reproduction of gender roles. This paradox has transformed singlehood life into a pervasive challenge with economic, social, and psychological dimensions. Amidst comprehensive social changes in a developing Iranian society—where modernity has entered and created economic and social opportunities for women’s participation—daughters are engaging in reflexivity. In this space, they reflect on their situation regarding the possibility of greater freedom, fluidity in social relationships and interactions with the opposite sex, and a preference for economic and social advancements. However, this is only one side of the coin. In a society where traditional culture governs the family and the psyche of a daughter, proportionate to the volume of her gendered socialization as a female, the reproduction of gender stereotypes also remains potent, defining the other side of the singlehood coin. This other side indicates that the dreams and aspirations of youth may not always be desirable. Indeed, singlehood, which doubles the difficulties due to their womanhood, ranges from the social stigmas they encounter to the effort to achieve success as a replacement to compensate for loneliness and lack of social support. It is under these conditions that, in the view of Berzonsky, the “confused identity style” can be deemed appropriate for the status and state of these women. As such, daydreaming about an unknown future leads to feelings of loneliness and regret, making social and economic success the only consolation—a consolation that cannot soothe their weary souls.

Keywords

Celibacy
Girls
Challenge
Grounded theory
Gachsaran
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  • Receive Date 08 June 2026
  • Publish Date 08 June 2026