Biological contingency and adaptation to celibacy among girls aged 35 and over in Yazd city

Kalateh Sadati, Ahmad; Jafarynaeemi, Fatemeh; Sadeghiyeh, Sara; Sadeghian Moghadam, Zahra

doi:10.22051/jwsps.2025.46674.2855

Biological contingency and adaptation to celibacy among girls aged 35 and over in Yazd city

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

¹ Assistant Professor, Yazd University

² Master's student in Demography, Yazd University, Faculty of Social Sciences

³ Department of sociology, faculty of social sciences, Yazd university, Yazd, Iran.

10.22051/jwsps.2025.46674.2855

Abstract

Celibacy among women in Iran is on the rise. This phenomenon varies across different decades and contexts, influenced by social and cultural conditions, which can impart diverse meanings and biological patterns. One group experiencing definitive or semi-definitive celibacy is women in their sixties. The aim of the current research is to explore and analyze their lifestyles and methods of adapting to society. This qualitative study was conducted in Yazd in 2023. The participants included 15 unmarried women aged 35 and older from Yazd, who were selected purposefully. Data were analyzed using a semi-structured interview method. The results of the research indicate that the participants are inevitably living in a situation characterized by minimal psychological well-being. Despite this, they are compelled to adapt. Five relevant themes emerged from the study: adaptability, cognitive regeneration, spiritualism, purposeful living, and attachment. Overall, the research demonstrates that the participants have developed a way of life that they can accept and manage, even while holding a somewhat unrealistic view of marriage. This adaptation allows them to enhance their mental and social well-being. However, despite these coping strategies, this group faces numerous challenges in achieving a sense of welfare, which necessitates greater attention from policymakers, particularly in the area of women's issues.

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