T. K. Rostovskaya, O. V. Kuchmaeva, M. Afzali, E. A. Irsetskaya. Cross-Cultural Marriages in the Context of the Transformation of the Family Model: Russia and Iran

UDК 316.356.2 

DOI: 10.15507/2413-1407.119.030.202202.405-423

Abstract

Introduction. The relevance of the study of cross-cultural marriages in Russia and Iran is due to the fact that Russia and Iran are characterized by both attention to the observance of cultural needs and the desire for innovative development. These contradictory manifestations are also manifested in family and marriage relations. There is a shortage of empirical studies that reflect the range of opinions of various social strata in Russia and Iran, allowing a comparative analysis of attitudes towards cross-cultural marriages to determine the prospects for state policy to support the institution of marriage in a cross-cultural environment. The purpose of the public research is to analyze the relationship with cross-cultural marriages in Russia and Iran against the background of the proposed family model.

Materials and Methods. Sociological research is carried out by the method of a quantitative survey. 153 people were interviewed in total, urban residents of Russia and Iran aged 18 to 60 who are in cross-cultural marriages or an interethnic, interfaith environment. To analyze the results, descriptive statistics methods, frequency distributions, and a tabular data visualization method were used.

Results. The survey results have revealed the presence of different ideas about the desired model of family and marriage both in Iran and Russia (both traditional and modern). The study has revealed a friendly attitude towards interethnic marriages in both countries (primarily for urban residents). In many ways, the success of cross-cultural marriages is determined by the attitude of relatives and the local community towards them.

Discussion and Conclusion. The results obtained can be used to develop strategies for the development of socio-cultural interaction between Russia and Iran. It is essential to consider the study’s conclusions when supporting cross-cultural families in the process of adaptation and acquaintance with the norms, traditions, and customs of a new culture spouse. It is necessary to conduct a study on a more representative sample to assess the differentiation and determinants of people’s opinions in interethnic marriages living in Iran and Russia.

Keywords: cross-cultural marriages, the institution of the family, interethnic and international relations, the institution of marriage in Russia and Iran, intercultural interactions

Conflict of interests. The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

For citation: Rostovskaya T.K., Kuchmaeva O.V., Afzali M., Irsetskaya E.A. Cross-Cultural Marriages in the Context of the Transformation of the Family Model: Russia and Iran. Regionology. Russian Journal of Regional Studies. 2022;30(2):405‒423. doi: https://doi.org/10.15507/2413-1407.119.030.202202.405-423

REFERENCES

1. Sullivan C., Cottone R. Culturally Based Couple Therapy and Intercultural Relationships: A Review of the Literature. The Family Journal. 2006;14(3):221–225. doi: https://doi.org/10.1177/1066480706287278

2. Bhugra D., De Silva P. Couple Therapy Across Cultures. Sexual and Relationship Therapy. 2000;15(2):183–192. doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/14681990050010763

3. Root M.P. Love’s Revolution: Interracial Marriage. Philadelphia: Temple University Press.; 2001. Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/37707627_Love's_Revolution_Interracial_Marriage accessed 15.12.2021).

4. Topilin A.V. Interethnic Families and Migration: Issues of Interactions. Sociological Studies. 1995;(7):76–82. Available at: https://www.elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=42638931& (accessed 15.12.2021). (In Russ.)

5. Lurie S.V. Interethnic Marriages in the Contemporary Russian National Script. St. Petersburg Sociology Today. 2018;(10):122–148. (In Russ., abstract in Eng.) doi: https://doi.org/10.25990/socinstras.pss-10.414k-p077

6. Alaguev M.V. Entry into Intercultural Marriage: Factors of Spouse Choice. National Psychological Journal. 2021;(1):63–75. (In Russ., abstract in Eng.) doi: https://doi.org/10.11621/npj.2021.0106

7. Sikevich Z.V., Possel Y.A. The Structure and Typology of the Ethnic Identity of Members of Interethnic and Mono-Ethnic Families (A Comparative Analysis). Sociological Journal. 2019;25(1):121–136. (In Russ., abstract in Eng.) doi: https://doi.org/10.19181/socjour.2018.25.1.6282

8. Joyner K., Kao G. Interracial Relationships, and the Transition to Adulthood. American Sociological Review. 2005;70(4):563–581. doi: https://doi.org/10.1177/000312240507000402

9. Johnson B., Jacobson C. Contact in Context: An Examination of Social Settings on Whites’ Attitudes Toward Interracial Marriage. Social Psychology Quarterly. 2005;68(4):387–399. doi: https://doi.org/10.1177/019027250506800406

10. Törngren S.O. Attitudes Toward Interracial Marriages and the Role of Interracial Contacts in Sweden. Ethnicities. 2016;16(4):568–588. doi: https://doi.org/10.1177/1468796816638400

11. Hirschl T.A., Altobelli J., Rank M.R. Does Marriage Increase the Odds of Affluence? Exploring the Life Course Probabilities. Journal of Marriage and the Family. 2006;65(4):927–938. doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-3737.2003.00927.x

12. Fisman R.J., Iyengar S.S., Kamenica E. Gender Differences in Mate Selection: Evidence from a Speed Dating Experiment. Quarterly Journal of Economics. 2006;121(2):673–697. doi: https://doi.org/10.7916/D8FB585Z

13. Khosravi S. Displaced Masculinity: Gender and Ethnicity among Iranian Men in Sweden. Iranian Studies. 2009;42(4):591–609. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/00210860903106311

14. Ryazantsev S.V., Sivoplyasova S.Yu., Rostovskaya T.K., Bushkova L.A. Marriage Emigration of Women from Russia: Scale, Reasons, Features. Woman in Russian Society. 2018;(4):85–99. (In Russ., abstract in Eng.) doi: https://doi.org/10.21064/WinRS.2018.4.8

15. Babochkin P.I. Cross-Сultural Marriages in a Multi-Ethnic Environment. Upravlenie megapolisom. 2008;(3):54–58. Available at: https://www.elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=13005014 (accessed 15.01.2022). (In Russ.)

16. Rostovskaya T.K., Kuchmayeva O.V. Imagery of the Young Russian People about Family Life: Sociological Aspect. Management Issues. 2015;(3):85–91. Available at: https://editorial.journal-management.com/file/47AC199C-5FEA-4979-9BCE-A1D3783AE717 (accessed 18.12.2021). (In Russ., abstract in Eng.)

17. Rostovskaya T.K., Rostovskaya N.A. Cross-Cultural Marriages in Youth Milieu: Issues, Trends. Cultural Heritage of Russia. 2016;(2):78–83. Available at: http://i.kultnasledie.ru/u/73/5fe576c47811e7951bcd9038568ca2/-/КНР13.pdf (accessed 12.12.2021). (In Russ., abstract in Eng.)

18. Eksakusto T.V., Amanova S.R., Schock I. Cognitive and Value Aspects of Young People Attitude to Marriage: Cross-Cultural Analysis. Modern Scientific Researches and Innovations. 2016;(10). Available at: https://web.snauka.ru/issues/2016/10/72051 (accessed 29.12.2021). (In Russ., abstract in Eng.)

19. Voroncova J., Ermolaev V. Generation Z’ Gender-Based Representations of Family: Cross-Cultural Analysis. Psychologist. 2016;(3):79–95. (In Russ., abstract in Eng.) doi: https://doi.org/10.7256/2409-8701.2016.3.19518

20. Rostovskaya T.K., Suleimanov A.D. Viability of Coss-Cultural Marriages in Russia and Azerbaijan. Vestnik VEGU. 2017;(2):110–117. Available at: https://elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=29004373 (accessed 19.12.2021). (In Russ., abstract in Eng.)

21. Rostovskaya T.K., Lukyanets A.S., Ryazantsev N.S. Features and trends of cross-cultural marriages in Japan. Alma mater (Higher School Herald). 2020;(11):78–83. (In Russ., abstract in Eng.) doi: https://doi.org/10.20339/AM.11-20.078

22. Jalali B. Iranian Families. In: McGoldrick M., Giordano J., Garcia-Preto N., eds. Ethnicity and Family Therapy. New York: Guilford Press; 2005. p. 451–467. Available at: https://unh.instructure.com/courses/27085/files/919139/download?verifier=degyCpvCOKW2hZj9U4qKc98xV66Detszi37meT6w&wrap=1 (accessed 13.01.2022).

23. Chaichian M. A. First Generation Iranian Immigrants and the Question of Cultural Identity: The Case of Iowa. International Migration Review. 1997;31(3):612–627. doi: https://doi.org/10.1177/019791839703100304

24. Ruebelt S., Singaravelu H., Daneshpour M., Brown C. Exploration of Cross-Cultural Couples’ Marital Adjustment: Iranian American Women Married to European American Men. Current Psychology. 2015;35:437–449. doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/S12144-015-9312-3

25. Zakharov S. Prospects for Fertility in Russia. Second Demographic Transition. Obshchestvennye zapiski. 2005;(3). Available at: https://strana-oz.ru/2005/3/perspektivy-rozhdaemosti-v-rossii-vtoroy-demograficheskiy-perehod (accessed 13.01.2022).

Submitted 11.11.2021; approved after reviewing 29.12.2021; accepted for publication 12.01.2022.

About the authors:

Tamara K. Rostovskaya, Deputy Director for Research, Institute for Demographic Research – Branch of the Federal Center of Theoretical and Applied Sociology of the Russian Academy of Sciences (6 building 1 Fotievoy St., Moscow 119333, Russian Federation), Dr. Sci. (Sociology), Full Professor, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1629-7780, Scopus ID: 57192987864, rostovskaya.tamara@mail.ru

Oksana V. Kuchmaeva, Chief Researcher, Institute for Demographic Research – Branch of the Federal Center of Theoretical and Applied Sociology of the Russian Academy of Sciences (6 building 1 Fotievoy St., Moscow 119333, Russian Federation), Dr. Sci. (Economics), Full Professor, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0386-857X, Scopus ID: 35183367300, kuchmaeva@yandex.ru

Mehdi Afzali, Senior Researcher, Institute for Demographic Research – Branch of the Federal Center of Theoretical and Applied Sociology of the Russian Academy of Sciences (6 building 1 Fotievoy St., Moscow 119333, Russian Federation), Cand. Sci. (Sociology), ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9577-5639, Scopus ID: 57212506339, mehdiafzali1991@gmail.com

Elena A. Irsetskaya, Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation (49/2 Leningradsky Ave., Moscow 125167, Russian Federation), Cand. Sci. (Sociology), Associate Professor, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0191-6486, Scopus ID: 57195632910, eairsetskaya@fa.ru

Contribution of the authors:

T. K. Rostovskaya – scientific supervision; research concept and methodology; critical analysis and revision of the text; project administrator.

O. V. Kuchmaeva – research concept and methodology; scientific supervision; formalized data analysis; preparation of the original text of the article; critical analysis and revision of the text.

M. Afzali – review of international experience; data collection and evidence; visualization/presentation of data in the text; revision of the text.

E. A. Irsetskaya – review of international experience; formalized data analysis.

The authors have read and approved the final version of the manuscript.

To download article