Faculty of Social Sciences, University of TehranSociological Review1010-280933120260421Predominance of Neoliberal Order on Production of City Space or How Idea of Islamic City Model Led to Theology of Market (Case Study of Social Space in Tehran City Since 1990sPredominance of Neoliberal Order on Production of City Space or How Idea of Islamic City Model Led to Theology of Market (Case Study of Social Space in Tehran City Since 1990s72810576810.22059/jsr.2026.362165.1877FAMansoorTabieeAssistant Professor of Social Science at Department of Social Sciences, Shiraz University,
Shiraz, I.R.IranNadieRezaeisociology department, Shiraz University. Shiraz, Iran0009-0001-0141-1528OmidMansourisociology, social sciences, Tehran university, Tehran, IranJournal Article20230712This article seeks to examine the development of capitalist relations after the revolution in Iran by mediation of the principles of the neoliberal political order. To achieve the desired results, the production of Tehran's urban space has been studied in the three decades of 1990, 2000 and 2010. From a theoretically have been used Lefebvre's theory of government and space production as well as Gertsel's idea of political order and Lefebvre's regressive-progressive methodology has been a model of historical attitude for the genealogical study of this issue. Each of these decades have acted in a special way in the project of capitalization of the urban space and as a result of the living space of the metropolis of Tehran. An attempt has been made to obtain the rules governing this planning and production space. In the 1370s, policy-making trends returned to the same urban governance style as the comprehensive plan of the city of Tehran in 1348 (1969), and the trend of dominating exchange- value over use- value is increasing. The distinguishing feature of this decade is the introduction of free market attitude to urban policy- making. In the 80 (2000)s facilitating the circulation and stabilization of capital became the main concern through the expansion of highways and high-rise construction. All of these developments lead to the formation of new lifestyles, making life more expensive in Tehran and as a result, the need to promote new life patterns through consumption prophets, i.e. celebrities. The 1990s is the arena of celebrity.This article seeks to examine the development of capitalist relations after the revolution in Iran by mediation of the principles of the neoliberal political order. To achieve the desired results, the production of Tehran's urban space has been studied in the three decades of 1990, 2000 and 2010. From a theoretically have been used Lefebvre's theory of government and space production as well as Gertsel's idea of political order and Lefebvre's regressive-progressive methodology has been a model of historical attitude for the genealogical study of this issue. Each of these decades have acted in a special way in the project of capitalization of the urban space and as a result of the living space of the metropolis of Tehran. An attempt has been made to obtain the rules governing this planning and production space. In the 1370s, policy-making trends returned to the same urban governance style as the comprehensive plan of the city of Tehran in 1348 (1969), and the trend of dominating exchange- value over use- value is increasing. The distinguishing feature of this decade is the introduction of free market attitude to urban policy- making. In the 80 (2000)s facilitating the circulation and stabilization of capital became the main concern through the expansion of highways and high-rise construction. All of these developments lead to the formation of new lifestyles, making life more expensive in Tehran and as a result, the need to promote new life patterns through consumption prophets, i.e. celebrities. The 1990s is the arena of celebrity.https://jsr.ut.ac.ir/article_105768_0cd6de1aedf23314a75984f36a2de6a9.pdfFaculty of Social Sciences, University of TehranSociological Review1010-280933120260421Designing a post-humanist theoretical model for the analysis of femininity in social networksDesigning a post-humanist theoretical model for the analysis of femininity in social networks294710591710.22059/jsr.2025.368937.1923FAZahraArdekanifardPhD in Communication Sciences, Allameh Tabataba'i UniversityHadiKhanikicommunication studies faculty, Allame Tabatabee universityBaharakMahmoodiAssistant Professor, Department of Journalism, Faculty of Communication, Allameh Tabataba'i UniversityJournal Article20240217Research on women and social media has become a rapidly expanding field in communication and media studies in Iran and globally. In Iran, however, most existing studies have been framed within a humanist paradigm. The humanist paradigm centers the human subject and largely overlooks the relational agencies of media and technological infrastructures. In contrast, posthumanist approaches theorize phenomena as emergent effects of assemblages of human and nonhuman actors. From this perspective, femininity on social media is not a stable, pre-given, purely human category inherited from the past; rather, it is continuously produced through relational entanglements with actor-networks and material–discursive forces.<br />The aim of this article is to advance such a theoretical orientation in order to better conceptualize the complexity and dynamics of the becoming of femininity on social platforms. Using a descriptive-analytical approach, we develop a theoretical model for posthumanist analysis of femininity in social media. The model draws on key posthumanist contributions, including Bruno Latour’s actor-network theory, Karen Barad’s agential realism, and Donna Haraway’s cyborg theory.Research on women and social media has become a rapidly expanding field in communication and media studies in Iran and globally. In Iran, however, most existing studies have been framed within a humanist paradigm. The humanist paradigm centers the human subject and largely overlooks the relational agencies of media and technological infrastructures. In contrast, posthumanist approaches theorize phenomena as emergent effects of assemblages of human and nonhuman actors. From this perspective, femininity on social media is not a stable, pre-given, purely human category inherited from the past; rather, it is continuously produced through relational entanglements with actor-networks and material–discursive forces.<br />The aim of this article is to advance such a theoretical orientation in order to better conceptualize the complexity and dynamics of the becoming of femininity on social platforms. Using a descriptive-analytical approach, we develop a theoretical model for posthumanist analysis of femininity in social media. The model draws on key posthumanist contributions, including Bruno Latour’s actor-network theory, Karen Barad’s agential realism, and Donna Haraway’s cyborg theory.https://jsr.ut.ac.ir/article_105917_ec6385419c83af600aac40fee97531b3.pdfFaculty of Social Sciences, University of TehranSociological Review1010-280933120260530Protective Support Policies for the Economic Subaltern in Iran After the Islamic Revolution"Protective Support Policies for the Economic Subaltern in Iran After the Islamic Revolution"496110583910.22059/jsr.2026.362566.1884FAGholamrezaGhaffariDepartment of sociology, Faculty of social science, University of Tehran, Tehran, IranSalehOlad DameshghiyehDepartment of sociology, Faculty of social science, University of Tehran, Tehran, IranJournal Article20230722It is imperative to address the issue of social support policies that aim to empower and fortify the subalterns, particularly the underprivileged and low-income groups, in Iran. The economic trends and market-oriented policies that emerged in the second decade of the Islamic Republic, coupled with subsequent events, have contributed to an alarming surge in inflation and social inequality. In this regard, our research, which forms part of a broader investigation on the evolution of the subaltern-state relationship over the past four decades, delves into the approved protective laws for the economic subaltern group, comparing them to those for other targeted groups. Our analysis reveals that the laws supporting the subalterns were predominantly enacted by the cabinet in accordance with the constitution. However, it is noteworthy that most of these laws were of an ad hoc and short-term nature, primarily taking the form of cash and non-cash payments, such as livelihood support baskets. These payments were aimed at alleviating the impact of inflationary crises on the subalterns.It is imperative to address the issue of social support policies that aim to empower and fortify the subalterns, particularly the underprivileged and low-income groups, in Iran. The economic trends and market-oriented policies that emerged in the second decade of the Islamic Republic, coupled with subsequent events, have contributed to an alarming surge in inflation and social inequality. In this regard, our research, which forms part of a broader investigation on the evolution of the subaltern-state relationship over the past four decades, delves into the approved protective laws for the economic subaltern group, comparing them to those for other targeted groups. Our analysis reveals that the laws supporting the subalterns were predominantly enacted by the cabinet in accordance with the constitution. However, it is noteworthy that most of these laws were of an ad hoc and short-term nature, primarily taking the form of cash and non-cash payments, such as livelihood support baskets. These payments were aimed at alleviating the impact of inflationary crises on the subalterns.https://jsr.ut.ac.ir/article_105839_e726ed55f9bc47d45c720218cd92219b.pdfFaculty of Social Sciences, University of TehranSociological Review1010-280933120260421Historical Reinterpretation of the Policy-Making Field for Modern Women's Education during the QajarHistorical Reinterpretation of the Policy-Making Field for Modern Women's Education during the Qajar638210679310.22059/jsr.2026.392992.2039FAMaryamHoseini NiaPhD Candidate in Social Welfare, Allameh Tabataba&amp;#039;i University, Tehran, IranMasoumehQarakhaniAssistant Professor, Faculty Member of Allameh Tabataba'i University, Tehran, IranAliJanadlehAssistant Professor, Faculty Member of Allameh Tabataba'i University, Tehran, IranJournal Article20250406This study examines the transformation of women’s education during the Qajar period, a key process in Iran’s transition from traditional to modern education. While previous research has addressed the establishment of new schools and the role of intellectual elites, the interaction between institutional arrangements, social forces, and policymaking for women’s education has received little analytical attention. This study is therefore necessary to clarify how these interactions shaped educational policies and connected with broader institutional, cultural, and political developments of the era. Using a historical institutionalist approach and concepts such as path dependency and critical junctures, it shows that the establishment of the Anjoman-e Ma’aref and the 1906 Constitutional Amendment were pivotal moments. These junctures disrupted traditional educational monopolies, promoted public education and gender equality, and facilitated the institutionalization of women’s schooling. By breaking entrenched institutional paths, they enabled the shift from traditional to modern education for women and contributed to redefining their social position in Qajar society.This study examines the transformation of women’s education during the Qajar period, a key process in Iran’s transition from traditional to modern education. While previous research has addressed the establishment of new schools and the role of intellectual elites, the interaction between institutional arrangements, social forces, and policymaking for women’s education has received little analytical attention. This study is therefore necessary to clarify how these interactions shaped educational policies and connected with broader institutional, cultural, and political developments of the era. Using a historical institutionalist approach and concepts such as path dependency and critical junctures, it shows that the establishment of the Anjoman-e Ma’aref and the 1906 Constitutional Amendment were pivotal moments. These junctures disrupted traditional educational monopolies, promoted public education and gender equality, and facilitated the institutionalization of women’s schooling. By breaking entrenched institutional paths, they enabled the shift from traditional to modern education for women and contributed to redefining their social position in Qajar society.https://jsr.ut.ac.ir/article_106793_127dc88e4652fd3e28f35d08f2c7fc9c.pdfFaculty of Social Sciences, University of TehranSociological Review1010-280933120260414The Social Construction of Gender Identity: A Qualitative Study Using Grounded Theory in the City of BojnourdThe Social Construction of Gender Identity: A Qualitative Study Using Grounded Theory in the City of Bojnourd8310310696410.22059/jsr.2026.409853.2098FAEsmaielGhorbanibojnurd university.Journal Article20260120Abstract<br />This research aims to provide a sociological understanding of gender identity disorder, by analyzing the lived experience and understanding the perceptions of social actors regarding this phenomenon in the city of Bojnourd. The present study was conducted using a qualitative method and a grounded theory approach. From a systematic analysis of in-depth interviews with 16 individuals with gender identity disorder and experts in this field, 101 subcategories, 20 main categories, and finally, based on selective coding, the central phenomenon was formulated in the form of "attempting to gain identity legitimacy in the dominant gender order" using the Strauss and Corbin approach. The central phenomenon influenced by causal conditions includes: "visibility of gender difference", "labeling", "gender change as a social reaction", "early rejection and internalization of the social gaze", "accumulation of social pressure and reaching a breaking point", and "medicalization of difference". And contextual conditions include: "the city as a social context shaping the experience of identity", "strict gender norms and social dualization", "kinship relations and informal networks", "linking cultural context with family experience" and "limited support resources and lack of safe spaces". And the intervening conditions include: "family", "official institutions", "administrative bureaucracy", "fear of social judgment and maintaining reputation" and "institutional stigma", which lead to consequences such as: "relative identity coherence", "persistence or transformation of social stigma" and "social exhaustion". In response to these conditions, people with gender identity disorder adopt behavioral strategies: "identity concealment," "forced adaptation," "search for meaning," and ultimately "gender change."Abstract<br />This research aims to provide a sociological understanding of gender identity disorder, by analyzing the lived experience and understanding the perceptions of social actors regarding this phenomenon in the city of Bojnourd. The present study was conducted using a qualitative method and a grounded theory approach. From a systematic analysis of in-depth interviews with 16 individuals with gender identity disorder and experts in this field, 101 subcategories, 20 main categories, and finally, based on selective coding, the central phenomenon was formulated in the form of "attempting to gain identity legitimacy in the dominant gender order" using the Strauss and Corbin approach. The central phenomenon influenced by causal conditions includes: "visibility of gender difference", "labeling", "gender change as a social reaction", "early rejection and internalization of the social gaze", "accumulation of social pressure and reaching a breaking point", and "medicalization of difference". And contextual conditions include: "the city as a social context shaping the experience of identity", "strict gender norms and social dualization", "kinship relations and informal networks", "linking cultural context with family experience" and "limited support resources and lack of safe spaces". And the intervening conditions include: "family", "official institutions", "administrative bureaucracy", "fear of social judgment and maintaining reputation" and "institutional stigma", which lead to consequences such as: "relative identity coherence", "persistence or transformation of social stigma" and "social exhaustion". In response to these conditions, people with gender identity disorder adopt behavioral strategies: "identity concealment," "forced adaptation," "search for meaning," and ultimately "gender change."https://jsr.ut.ac.ir/article_106964_5b3fe9bfc9a44676212e529e738049a9.pdfFaculty of Social Sciences, University of TehranSociological Review1010-280933120260610Institutional Opportunities and Constraints for Fostering Critical Thinking in Iran: A Qualitative Study of the Philosophy for Children ProgramInstitutional Opportunities and Constraints for Fostering Critical Thinking in Iran: A Qualitative Study of the Philosophy for Children Program10512110600010.22059/jsr.2026.232824.1128FAFatemehFazlinothingSeyyed ZiaHashemideputy minister of scienceAbdolhossienKalantariDepartment of Sociology, Social Sciences Faculty, University of Tehran, Tehran, IranJournal Article20170507The formal education system in modern societies is not merely an institution for the transmission of knowledge; rather, it constitutes one of the most significant mechanisms for the reproduction of social order, power relations, and dominant patterns of action. In Iranian society, the memory-based, authoritarian, and grade-oriented logic of formal education has imposed structural constraints on the cultivation of critical thinking. Adopting a qualitative and critical approach, the present study examines the institutional possibilities and limitations of fostering critical thinking through the experience of implementing the “Step by Step Toward Thinking” program.<br />The research data were collected through participant observation, classroom dialogue recordings, field notes, and interviews with children, parents, and instructors at the Institute for the Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults, and were analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings indicate that, at the micro level of education, this program has been able to temporarily suspend the logic of banking education and create spaces for rational dialogue, inquiry, and the emergence of a critical subject. However, these changes encounter resistance and limitations when confronted with dominant institutional orders, particularly the authoritarian family structure and the formal education system.<br />The results suggest that alternative educational programs, while capable of producing meaningful disruptions in the dominant educational order, remain fragile and unstable in their impact without simultaneous transformations in institutional structures and a critical rethinking of the roles of teachers and families. Therefore, fostering critical thinking is less an educational issue than a profoundly institutional and social one.The formal education system in modern societies is not merely an institution for the transmission of knowledge; rather, it constitutes one of the most significant mechanisms for the reproduction of social order, power relations, and dominant patterns of action. In Iranian society, the memory-based, authoritarian, and grade-oriented logic of formal education has imposed structural constraints on the cultivation of critical thinking. Adopting a qualitative and critical approach, the present study examines the institutional possibilities and limitations of fostering critical thinking through the experience of implementing the “Step by Step Toward Thinking” program.<br />The research data were collected through participant observation, classroom dialogue recordings, field notes, and interviews with children, parents, and instructors at the Institute for the Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults, and were analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings indicate that, at the micro level of education, this program has been able to temporarily suspend the logic of banking education and create spaces for rational dialogue, inquiry, and the emergence of a critical subject. However, these changes encounter resistance and limitations when confronted with dominant institutional orders, particularly the authoritarian family structure and the formal education system.<br />The results suggest that alternative educational programs, while capable of producing meaningful disruptions in the dominant educational order, remain fragile and unstable in their impact without simultaneous transformations in institutional structures and a critical rethinking of the roles of teachers and families. Therefore, fostering critical thinking is less an educational issue than a profoundly institutional and social one.https://jsr.ut.ac.ir/article_106000_4d442367fb6d9f7fc143680fd45d939c.pdfFaculty of Social Sciences, University of TehranSociological Review1010-280933120260421Applying social science findings to the regulation of laws to combat psychological violence against womenApplying social science findings to the regulation of laws to combat psychological violence against women12313810668110.22059/jsr.2026.406387.2087FAMahdiehMohammadi AraghiPhD in Private Law from Allameh Tabatabaei UniversityJournal Article20251116One of the issues that has always been a source of controversy in family law and has led to a division of opinions is the issue of domestic violence against women, especially psychological violence. Domestic violence is one of the most important factors that endangers the health and security of the family. Sometimes this violence leads to visible physical effects, and sometimes, despite very destructive effects, it does not have an outward appearance, which is referred to as psychological and hidden violence. This type of violence causes damage to the individual's personality and the collapse of the foundations of the family. The nature of family law is such that legislation and judgment in this area cannot be made by relying solely on legal tools. In fact, governing in this area without the help of moral values and without interaction with social sciences is not only not in the best interests of the individual, family, and society, but also undoubtedly brings many corruptions. This research, using the method of logical analysis and relying on the findings of social sciences, seeks to prove this important point: Based on the special nature of family law, it is expedient to define psychological violence in law not as a crime but as an illegal act that has a guarantee of appropriate enforcement, and to explain its characteristics and examples in detail. In addition, this article also provides suggestions on determining the authority for diagnosing domestic violence and ensuring appropriate enforcement.One of the issues that has always been a source of controversy in family law and has led to a division of opinions is the issue of domestic violence against women, especially psychological violence. Domestic violence is one of the most important factors that endangers the health and security of the family. Sometimes this violence leads to visible physical effects, and sometimes, despite very destructive effects, it does not have an outward appearance, which is referred to as psychological and hidden violence. This type of violence causes damage to the individual's personality and the collapse of the foundations of the family. The nature of family law is such that legislation and judgment in this area cannot be made by relying solely on legal tools. In fact, governing in this area without the help of moral values and without interaction with social sciences is not only not in the best interests of the individual, family, and society, but also undoubtedly brings many corruptions. This research, using the method of logical analysis and relying on the findings of social sciences, seeks to prove this important point: Based on the special nature of family law, it is expedient to define psychological violence in law not as a crime but as an illegal act that has a guarantee of appropriate enforcement, and to explain its characteristics and examples in detail. In addition, this article also provides suggestions on determining the authority for diagnosing domestic violence and ensuring appropriate enforcement.https://jsr.ut.ac.ir/article_106681_36ab0c15ae605cc79e3ba17e0ae110a1.pdfFaculty of Social Sciences, University of TehranSociological Review1010-280933120260421Paradigmatic Methodology of Phenomenological Articles on Social Harms in IranParadigmatic Methodology of Phenomenological Articles on Social Harms in Iran13915810668210.22059/jsr.2026.390927.2032FASeied MohsenMollabashiAssistant Professor, Department of Islamic Social Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Tehran,MahdiHoseinzadeh. Associate Professor, Department of Islamic Social Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Tehran,Journal Article20250222One of the significant shortcomings of social sciences in our country is the lack or even absence of theories about social harms, such as divorce, poverty, marginalization, addiction, and unemployment. Social scientists are expected to be able to describe, analyze, and scientifically and efficiently explain the causes and factors that cause them in Iran, and to provide the scientific community and the country's executive managers with strategies and solutions to manage and reduce them, leading to an improvement in the country's social situation. One of the scientific methods that can lead to a deep, first-hand, and indigenous understanding of social reality is phenomenology, which many researchers have used to analyze social harms; of course, achieving this goal requires sufficient mastery of the methodological framework of phenomenology and adherence to this framework in practice. However, many of these studies suffer from methodological irregularities; in this sense, for whatever reason, they have failed to properly observe the fundamental assumptions of the interpretivist paradigm and the phenomenological method in their research. In this study, with the help of paradigmatic methodology, we seek to answer this fundamental question: What are the paradigmatic methodological indicators of the phenomenological method and how can these indicators be used to evaluate and critique research to improve and enhance its coherence and scientific validity?One of the significant shortcomings of social sciences in our country is the lack or even absence of theories about social harms, such as divorce, poverty, marginalization, addiction, and unemployment. Social scientists are expected to be able to describe, analyze, and scientifically and efficiently explain the causes and factors that cause them in Iran, and to provide the scientific community and the country's executive managers with strategies and solutions to manage and reduce them, leading to an improvement in the country's social situation. One of the scientific methods that can lead to a deep, first-hand, and indigenous understanding of social reality is phenomenology, which many researchers have used to analyze social harms; of course, achieving this goal requires sufficient mastery of the methodological framework of phenomenology and adherence to this framework in practice. However, many of these studies suffer from methodological irregularities; in this sense, for whatever reason, they have failed to properly observe the fundamental assumptions of the interpretivist paradigm and the phenomenological method in their research. In this study, with the help of paradigmatic methodology, we seek to answer this fundamental question: What are the paradigmatic methodological indicators of the phenomenological method and how can these indicators be used to evaluate and critique research to improve and enhance its coherence and scientific validity?https://jsr.ut.ac.ir/article_106682_55e7641603a3b52fddf5018c3f0a2d9f.pdfFaculty of Social Sciences, University of TehranSociological Review1010-280933120260421Reproducing cultural distinctions and studying the tastes of Iranian social classes in VOD algorithmsReproducing cultural distinctions and studying the tastes of Iranian social classes in VOD algorithms15917210669310.22059/jsr.2026.405569.2081FAMozhganOrojiPhD Knowledge and Information Science, Faculty of Literature, Humanities and Social Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch, Tehran, IranJournal Article20251104The present study aimed to investigate the role of recommendation algorithms in reproducing cultural distinctions and class tastes in Iranian video-on-demand (VOD) platforms. This study was designed with a quantitative and qualitative approach. In the quantitative part, data from 450 active users of Iranian platforms were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire and analyzed using statistical methods. In the qualitative part, 25 interviews with selected users were conducted to explain cultural decision-making mechanisms and were examined using content analysis. The findings showed that although access to platforms is relatively homogeneous, the understanding of the functioning of algorithms and consumption patterns is a function of the social status and cultural capital of individuals. The results showed that at a macro level, recommendation algorithms act as cultural mediators and, while facilitating access, lead to the invisible reproduction of class and taste boundaries. Therefore, the data-driven technologies of VOD platforms are not only a means of content distribution but also an active factor in reconstructing cultural distinctions in Iran's digital society.The present study aimed to investigate the role of recommendation algorithms in reproducing cultural distinctions and class tastes in Iranian video-on-demand (VOD) platforms. This study was designed with a quantitative and qualitative approach. In the quantitative part, data from 450 active users of Iranian platforms were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire and analyzed using statistical methods. In the qualitative part, 25 interviews with selected users were conducted to explain cultural decision-making mechanisms and were examined using content analysis. The findings showed that although access to platforms is relatively homogeneous, the understanding of the functioning of algorithms and consumption patterns is a function of the social status and cultural capital of individuals. The results showed that at a macro level, recommendation algorithms act as cultural mediators and, while facilitating access, lead to the invisible reproduction of class and taste boundaries. Therefore, the data-driven technologies of VOD platforms are not only a means of content distribution but also an active factor in reconstructing cultural distinctions in Iran's digital society.https://jsr.ut.ac.ir/article_106693_10bb2cb02c62cf0ded3f6cb49de5c290.pdf