Investigating the effects of earthquakes on the structure of rural families (A case study of Kuik villages on Zahab Bridge after the 2016 earthquake

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 phd student of social development of Tehran University

2 Associate Professor, Department of Social Development, University of Tehran

10.22059/ijar.2025.388235.459900

Abstract

Purpose- This study examines the social changes in families after the Sar-e-Pol-e-Zahab earthquake in 2017. The main question is what are the social changes in the family after the disaster and whether the earthquake and its relief process have affected the traditional foundations of the family, including the power structure and behavioral patterns of the family?
Methodology- The research method was a qualitative method using semi-structured in-depth interviews (12 families) and focus groups (13 groups) in the villages of "Koyik", "Shamshiri" and "Tami Hawas". The data were also analyzed using thematic analysis technique. The sample size includes thirteen focus groups and twelve semi-structured in-depth interviews from the key informants.
Findings- In the categorization of data extracted from interviews, the following central categories were obtained: “female leadership and precedence”, “normative rupture”, “increasing individualism in the family”, “increasing economic independence of women”, “changing dietary habits”, “changing sleep-wake cycle and increasing night waking”, and “changing young girls’ clothing from the indigenous style to the national style”. Among the results, the issue of weakening the patriarchal culture before the earthquake and the new leadership of women in advancing new family and social activities is very important. Because this new event has brought with it other forms of changes in lifestyle, health and eating habits. A more comprehensive understanding of the earthquake's consequences necessitates tracking these changes over time and examining their trajectory.
Conclusions- The changes that occurred as a result of the earthquake, while leading to challenges such as increased family conflicts, have created opportunities for redefining new norms and values ​​in the family and local groups. The present study has attempted to provide an understanding of social changes after the earthquake, but this picture is related to a specific place and time period. And to fully understand the consequences of the earthquake, it is necessary to conduct more research and apply more findings to design practical and executive policies in the disaster field.

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Iranian Journal of Anthropological Research
Volume 15, Issue 1
Indexing Databases
August 2025
Pages 103-123

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