The decline in marriage rates is one of the significant transformations in Iranian society in recent years. This research aims to examine the tendency toward non-marital relationships among citizens of Gilan Province based on modernization processes. For this purpose, Beck and Beck-Gernsheim's theory of risk society and individualization was used as the theoretical framework of the research. This research was conducted using a quantitative method, and the research data was collected using a researcher-made questionnaire. The validity of the questionnaire was based on face validity, and its reliability was confirmed based on Cronbach's alpha test. The statistical population of the research consisted of unmarried citizens aged 15-49 years in Gilan Province, and 850 individuals were examined using multi-stage cluster sampling. The results of the research indicate that the tendency toward non-marital relationships among respondents is high. Regression results showed that 50.7 percent of the total changes in the tendency toward non-marital relationships depended on the independent variables of the research. The variable of freedom of choice has the greatest regression effect on the tendency toward non-marital relationships, followed by the variable of reflexivity of gender roles, and the variable of decline in traditional values. Although the family in its formal form still exists as the dominant form in Iranian society, due to modernization processes, we are witnessing the emergence of new forms of relationships such as non-marital relationships. This situation indicates that marriage is no longer the only available option for establishing relationships between men and women.



Extended Abstract

1. Introduction

Entering the modernity flow into the social structure of Iran especially into its family social structure, have made tremendous effects on values and norms regarding social relations, life style, marriage and so on. If we consider that the fundamental characteristic of the past societies was moving or changing in a very slow manner and the characteristic of the present is fast changes, it is not so far to see different and even unexpected thinks, believes, and different patterns of relationships to emerge. Mate selection and marriage in traditional Iran more relied on collective traditions and norms and personal decisions did not have any role in this way. This personal decision, in turn, mostly rely on economic and social maturity.

Those girls or boys in Iranian society, who prefer to have sexual relation without marriage, represent different kinds of social relation other than formal and traditional kind and one cannot ignore it. Iranian youth along with recent social changes especially extensive educational attainments and technological social networks attained new cultural understandings, ideas, attitudes that in turn have caused grate changes in their tendencies and values regarding marriage. Researches on marriage and premarital relations revealed that there is new kind of relationships among youth, however not so obviously but in most cases so latent.

This new and somehow latent form of relationship in Iran has been a normal form in western societies at least since 1960 and sociologists extensively have studied it. According to Beck and Beck-Gernshime, trajectory of having relationships and marriages somehow separated and those who have marital relationships necessarily do not marry. Therefore, in this study we intended to explore the tendency of youth to have premarital relationships in Guilan province of Iran; since it seems that geographical situation and socio-economic condition of Guilan in north of Iran facilitated the introduction and spread of some modern cultural elements in this province.

2. Methodology

The present quantitative research have done based on survey method by using a researcher made questionnaire. Statistical population was unmarried people in the age interval of 15-49, among which 820 respondents selected as sample size for final analysis through the multi-round cluster sampling method in the urban areas of four districts of Rasht, Bandar Anzali, Lahijan and Talesh. The validity of the questionnaire evaluated through formal validity method and its reliability evaluated through Cronbach’s alpha.

3. Findings

The results of regression analysis reveal that correlation coefficient of the independent variables with the dependent variable (non-marriage relationship tendency) is 0.795 and the R2 is 0.507, which reveals that 50.7 percent of total changes in non-marriage relationship tendency is associated to independent variables of the study.

Among the variables recruited in the study, the variable of free choice had the highest relation (0.324) with non-marriage relationship tendency and then the variables of reflexivity in gender roles (0.242), individualization of risk (0.220), education (0.114), being a male respondent (0.095) associated to the dependent variable.

Results of path analysis revealed that among the variables recruited in the study, the variable of free choice had the highest direct effect on dependent variable. In addition, the variables of individualization and being a male respondent had direct effect on dependent variable. The variables of reflexivity on gender roles, reduction of traditional values and education had both direct and indirect effect through the variable of free choice on dependent variable.

4. Conclusion

Today we witness that youth have less tendency to marry early and late marriage have been a social norm. On the other hand, reflection on mate selection have been a fundamental element of individual biography and since the dynamism of individualization processes spread into the family living, all elements of family living also have experienced fundamental transformations. However, these transformations did not mean that traditional family (stable union between husband, wife and children) more or less disappeared, but represents that along with the traditional form there are also other new forms.

Transformations on marital relationships in Iran especially in Guilan province represent the effects of modernization and individualization processes on these relationships. Reduction in marriage rates, increasing divorce rates and reduction in childbearing are some signs of this transformations in which individuals tried to find their own way through “individualization” to control the “risks” on their lives. Searching for love and affective commitment, having permanent partner, escaping the loneliness … yet are in the life of individuals as social values and personal end; but youth of the era search these goals not merely in the traditional form of marriage and family, but they try to attain them in different forms and ways.

Exploring changes and transformations in values and actions is important based on specific economic and socio-cultural backgrounds of Guilan province. It seems that in Guilan, economic difficulties along with increasing educational attainments of women caused reflection on gender roles and reduction of traditional values, which in turn bring fundamental changes in choices of youth, and reflection on values regarding marriage and lifelong commitment.

Economic condition of Guilan province that was almost dependent on agriculture in recent decades encountered with some difficulties. Seasonality of crops, reduction in the size of the land cultivated because of inheritance low and division of land between children after the death of father, increasing tourism and some other difficulties caused the youth to feel more economic insecurity and follow to have non-formal forms of marital relationships.

In addition, the important role of the family in the formation of marital relationships of youth have reduced and youth have more to say on their future marital relationships. These factors and changes in attitudes regarding marriage caused the youth to replace the traditional ways of marriage with new ways. Indeed, Guilan youth nowadays do not regard the marriage as the only way of responding to the economic and affectional needs. If they have to choose between marriage and other facilities like education, occupation, income and independence to make future living, most probable that they place the latter more weight than marriage.