Individual and Social Re-creation of Married Women Through Returning to University Education: A Qualitative Study at the University of Yazd.

Authors

1 Professor of Sociology, Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences, Yazd University, Yazd, Iran.

2 MA in Sociology, Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences, Yazd University, Yazd, Iran

10.22080/ssi.2025.28854.2267

Abstract

Objectives: The present research aims to explain the understanding and experience of the process of individual and social re-creation among married women returning to study at the University of Yazd. The individual and social re-creation of women through academic education refers to a process in which women re-evaluate their abilities and roles by leveraging education, leading to their personal and social growth and development. This research is significant because, in circumstances where many women leave their education due to marriage and various other reasons, and their opportunities for advancement are limited, returning to university provides women with the chance to redefine themselves, strengthen their social standing, and improve their individual quality of life. Methods: The research method employed in this study is qualitative, utilizing the grounded theory strategy and Charmaz's constructivist approach. Participants included 26 married women studying for master’s and PhD degrees who had returned to education after several years. They were selected through snowball sampling with maximum diversity. Data were collected through in-depth and semi-structured interviews in three stages: initial, focused, and theoretical, resulting in the categorization of fourteen initial codes, six focused codes, and one theoretical code. Results: In the process of analysis and coding, the focused codes that emerged were self-belief, realization of social and economic status, improved quality of life and meaning-making, academic experience as a context for transformation, intellectual independence and balance in values, and managing life within the framework of multiple roles. Individual and social re-creation was constructed as the theoretical code. Conclusion: Based on the findings, married women who experience university as a context for transformation achieve self-belief through education, which leads to an improved quality of life and meaning making, as well as the ability to manage their lives within the framework of multiple roles. These women have been able to attain intellectual independence and a balance in values in their thoughts and actions in life through education, and alongside acquiring knowledge, they expect the realization of social and economic status from their education.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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Sociology of Social Institutions
Volume 12, Issue 25
August 2025
Pages 315-338

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