A Phenomenological Study of Contexts, Consequences and Adaptations to Divorce among Divorced Women of Tehran City

Document Type : Original

Author

Assistant Professor of Sociology, University of Bu Ali Sina,Hamedan, Iran

Abstract

Purpose: This Phenomenological study explores the contexts, process and consequences of divorce from divorced women point of view and the way they cope with its multidimensional experience. Despite of positivistic perspective which considers divorce as something mainly determined by external forces, this interpretative research investigate the lived experience of divorce referring to women naïve point of view and the way they deals with their new lives.  
Method: This work utilizes the phenomenology both as theory and method to reveal and represent the experience of divorce as it is done by participants. It is tried to narrate the process of divorce based on women own narratives. The sampling strategy was maximum variation purposive sampling and 107 participants being interviewed in Tehran based on theoretical saturation criterion.
Findings: According to findings, there existed four contextual factors for divorce including of Economic, Psychological – individual, Communicative, and Socio-Cultural contexts.
Conclusion: At end, two strategies for adaption were found among divorced women; these are living with parent family and living independently. The body of findings has been presented in a conceptual model.

Keywords

References

Amato, Paul R. (2004), “The Consequences of Divorce for Adults and Children”, Journal of Marriage and Family, Volume 62 Issue 4, pp: 1269 – 1287.
Beck, Cheryl Tatano, Barbara A. Keddy and Marlene Zichi Cohen (1994), “Reliability and Validity Issues in Phenomenological Research”, In, West J Nurs Res, 16; 254.
Charmaz, Kathy (2006), Grounding Grounded Theory: A Practical Guide through Qualitative Analysis, London: Sage Publications Ltd.
Coltrane, Scott and Randall Collins (2001), Sociology of Marriage and the Family: Gender, Love, and Property, Fifth Edition, Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.
 Connell, Patricia, J. (2003) “A Phenomenological Study of the Lived Experiences of Adult Caregiving Daughters and Their Elderly Mothers”, A PhD. Dissertation, University of Florida.
Corbin, J. and A. Strauss (2008), Basics of Qualitative Research, Third Edition, London: Sage Publications Inc.
Ferguson, Harvie (2006), Phenomenological Sociology: Insight and Experience in Modern Society, Sage Publications.
Frisco, Michelle L. and Kristi Williams (2003), “Perceived Housework Equity, Marital Happiness, and Divorce in Dual-Earner Households”, Journal of Family Issues, Vol. 24, 1: pp. 51-73.
Glaser, Barney and Anselm Strauss (1967), Discovery of Grounded Theory, Transaction Publishers. Johnson, Jeffry. (1989). Selecting Ethnographic Informants. London: Sage Publication. Kalmijn, Matthijs,. Paul M. De Graaf, Anne Rigt Poortman (2004), “Interactions between Cultural and Economic Determinants of Divorce in the Netherlands”, Journal of Marriage and Family,Volume 66, Issue 1, pp: 75-89.
Knaack, Phyllis (1984), “Phenomenological Research”, In, West J Nurs Res 6; 107. Krumrei, Elizabeth J., Annette Mahoney, Kenneth I. Pargament (2009), “Divorce and the Divine: The Role of Spirituality in Adjustment to Divorce”, Journal of Marriage and Family, Volume 71, Issue 2, pp: 373-383.
Lawlor, Leonard (2002), Derrida and Husserl : the Basic Problem of Phenomenology, Indiana University Press. Megan M.. Sweeney (2002), “Remarriage and the Nature of Divorce: Does it Matter Which Spouse Chose to Leave?” Journal of Family Issues, Vol. 23, 3: pp. 410-440.
Merriam, Sharan B. (1998), Qualitative Research and Case Study Applications in Education, First Edition, Jossey ـ Bass.
Gähler, Michael. Ying Hong and Eva Bernhardt (2009), “Parental Divorce and Union Disruption among Young Adults in Sweden”, Journal of Family Issue; Vol. 30, 5: pp. 688-713.
 Patton, M. Q. (2001), Qualitative Research and Evaluation Methods, Third Edition, London: Sage Publications Ltd.
 Bulanda, J. R. & Brown, S. (2006) Race-ethnic Differences in Marital Equality and Divorce, Department of Sociology and Center for Family and Demographic Research. Bowling Green State University: Bowling Green, USA. Greenstein, T. N. & Shannon, D. (2006) Cross-national Variations in Divorce: Effects of Women’s Power, Prestige and Dependence. Journal of Comparative Family, Studies, 37(2): 253-273.
Risch, Sharon C., Kathleen M. Jodl, Jaquelynne S. Eccles (2004), “Role of the Father‐Adolescent Relationship in Shaping Adolescents' Attitudes Toward Divorce”, Journal of Marriage and Family, Volume 66, Issue 1, pp: 46-58.
Shank, G. (2006), Qualitative Research: A Personal Skills Approach, Pearson, Merril Prentice ـ Hall. Thomas, Cindy and Marilyn Ryan (2008), “Women’s Perception of the Divorce Experience: A Qualitative Study”, In, Journal of Divorce & Remarriage, Vol. 49(3/4).
Yu, Tianyi., Gregory S. Pettit, Jennifer E. Lansford, Kenneth A. Dodge, John E. Bates (2010), “The Interactive Effects of Marital Conflict and Divorce on Parent – Adult Children's Relationships”, Journal of Marriage and Family, Volume 72, Issue 2, pp: 282-292.
Zahavi, Dan (2003), Husserl Phenomenology, Stanford University Press.
Amato, Paul R. (2004), “The Consequences of Divorce for Adults and Children”, Journal of Marriage and Family, Volume 62 Issue 4, pp: 1269 – 1287.
Beck, Cheryl Tatano, Barbara A. Keddy and Marlene Zichi Cohen (1994), “Reliability and Validity Issues in Phenomenological Research”, In, West J Nurs Res, 16; 254.
Charmaz, Kathy (2006), Grounding Grounded Theory: A Practical Guide through Qualitative Analysis, London: Sage Publications Ltd.
Coltrane, Scott and Randall Collins (2001), Sociology of Marriage and the Family: Gender, Love, and Property, Fifth Edition, Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.
 Connell, Patricia, J. (2003) “A Phenomenological Study of the Lived Experiences of Adult Caregiving Daughters and Their Elderly Mothers”, A PhD. Dissertation, University of Florida.
Corbin, J. and A. Strauss (2008), Basics of Qualitative Research, Third Edition, London: Sage Publications Inc.
Ferguson, Harvie (2006), Phenomenological Sociology: Insight and Experience in Modern Society, Sage Publications.
Frisco, Michelle L. and Kristi Williams (2003), “Perceived Housework Equity, Marital Happiness, and Divorce in Dual-Earner Households”, Journal of Family Issues, Vol. 24, 1: pp. 51-73.
Glaser, Barney and Anselm Strauss (1967), Discovery of Grounded Theory, Transaction Publishers. Johnson, Jeffry. (1989). Selecting Ethnographic Informants. London: Sage Publication. Kalmijn, Matthijs,. Paul M. De Graaf, Anne Rigt Poortman (2004), “Interactions between Cultural and Economic Determinants of Divorce in the Netherlands”, Journal of Marriage and Family,Volume 66, Issue 1, pp: 75-89.
Knaack, Phyllis (1984), “Phenomenological Research”, In, West J Nurs Res 6; 107. Krumrei, Elizabeth J., Annette Mahoney, Kenneth I. Pargament (2009), “Divorce and the Divine: The Role of Spirituality in Adjustment to Divorce”, Journal of Marriage and Family, Volume 71, Issue 2, pp: 373-383.
Lawlor, Leonard (2002), Derrida and Husserl : the Basic Problem of Phenomenology, Indiana University Press. Megan M.. Sweeney (2002), “Remarriage and the Nature of Divorce: Does it Matter Which Spouse Chose to Leave?” Journal of Family Issues, Vol. 23, 3: pp. 410-440.
Merriam, Sharan B. (1998), Qualitative Research and Case Study Applications in Education, First Edition, Jossey ـ Bass.
Gähler, Michael. Ying Hong and Eva Bernhardt (2009), “Parental Divorce and Union Disruption among Young Adults in Sweden”, Journal of Family Issue; Vol. 30, 5: pp. 688-713.
 Patton, M. Q. (2001), Qualitative Research and Evaluation Methods, Third Edition, London: Sage Publications Ltd.
 Bulanda, J. R. & Brown, S. (2006) Race-ethnic Differences in Marital Equality and Divorce, Department of Sociology and Center for Family and Demographic Research. Bowling Green State University: Bowling Green, USA. Greenstein, T. N. & Shannon, D. (2006) Cross-national Variations in Divorce: Effects of Women’s Power, Prestige and Dependence. Journal of Comparative Family, Studies, 37(2): 253-273.
Risch, Sharon C., Kathleen M. Jodl, Jaquelynne S. Eccles (2004), “Role of the Father‐Adolescent Relationship in Shaping Adolescents' Attitudes Toward Divorce”, Journal of Marriage and Family, Volume 66, Issue 1, pp: 46-58.
Shank, G. (2006), Qualitative Research: A Personal Skills Approach, Pearson, Merril Prentice ـ Hall. Thomas, Cindy and Marilyn Ryan (2008), “Women’s Perception of the Divorce Experience: A Qualitative Study”, In, Journal of Divorce & Remarriage, Vol. 49(3/4).
Yu, Tianyi., Gregory S. Pettit, Jennifer E. Lansford, Kenneth A. Dodge, John E. Bates (2010), “The Interactive Effects of Marital Conflict and Divorce on Parent – Adult Children's Relationships”, Journal of Marriage and Family, Volume 72, Issue 2, pp: 282-292.
Zahavi, Dan (2003), Husserl Phenomenology, Stanford University Press.

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  • Receive Date: 04 September 2012
  • Accept Date: 17 January 2013

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