Document Type : Case Study
Authors
1
Professor, Department of Women's Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, Allameh Tabataba'i University,Tehran, Iran
2
Ph.D. Candidate, Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences, Allameh Tabataba'i University, Tehran, Iran
3
M.A. in Cultural Studies, Department of Cultural Studies, Allameh Tabataba'i University, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
Religiosity represents one of the most significant dimensions of women’s lived experiences. This realm is exceedingly shaped by the transformative wave of global cultural shifts, encompassing the revolution in information technology, individualism, secularization, religious radicalism, social differentiation, integration into global culture, the rise of new lifestyles, and widespread migration. These changes have given rise to novel patterns of religiosity. The everyday life of Iranians, from antiquity to the present, has been intertwined with Abrahamic religions, Zoroastrianism, Manichaeism, and various mystical traditions. This pluralistic religious culture has been influenced by global cultural transformations. Women living in Iran’s metropolises are among the most devout demographic groups. This study employs the grounded theory method with Strauss’s approach to map the religiosity of women in Tehran during this era of change. The analysis focuses on four components of the coding paradigm, underlined by the positivist psychology and Buddhist spirituality in these emerging patterns of religiosity. Causal conditions include religious behavior, social identity, tolerance, psychological types, and peaceful pathways or places. Contextual and intervening conditions included the cultural background of families, participants’ use of cultural products, and their leisure activities. The strategy Tehran women adopt—attending virtual courses and classes—often stems from encouragement by close friends and family and serves as a response to medical or social risks. The anticipated outcomes reported by interviewees include self-improvement, self-awareness, enhanced resilience, patience, success, tranquility, spirituality, and positive thinking. Through mechanisms of “innovation” and “heresy,” Tehran women engage in reconstructing or rethinking their identities, particularly in confronting challenges such as illness.
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