Marginalization and the Role of Mothers in Transmitting Religious and Cultural Values to Future Generations: A Case Study of the Joyābād Neighborhood in Isfahan

Extended Abstract
 
Introduction and Objectives: The expansion of urban marginalization, as a consequence of unbalanced development and socioeconomic inequality, has brought numerous implications for family structure and the upbringing of the future generation. Within this context, mothers, as one of the most effective agents in transmitting culture and values to their children, play a key role. However, the living conditions in marginalized areas can subject this role to serious challenges. This research was conducted to explore the lived experiences of mothers residing in the Joyābād district of Isfahan (located in the west of the city) and their methods for transmitting cultural and educational values to their children.
The significance of this research lies in gaining a more precise understanding of the capacities and limitations of mothers in marginalized areas in order to design effective social and educational interventions and to strengthen their role in raising an aware and committed generation. Unlike the dominant approach in marginalization studies that focuses on damages and challenges, the present study adopts a positive-oriented perspective, specifically examining mothers’ capacities in transmitting religious and cultural values. It is expected that the findings of this study will lead to a clearer understanding of the cultural-educational situation of marginalized families and contribute to providing solutions for supporting these mothers.
Method: Given the nature of the topic, this study utilizes a qualitative approach and the grounded theory method. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 10 mothers living in the study area. Participants were selected using purposive sampling, and the interviews continued until theoretical saturation was reached. The interviews were content-coded using thematic analysis with the assistance of MAXQDA software, from which the main themes were extracted. After coding, summarizing, and consolidating the extracted codes, they were organized around three main themes: (1) The contexts for the formation of marginalization, (2) The problems and challenges facing mothers, and (3) Religious and cultural values and their methods of transmission.
The data collection process involved the researcher’s presence in a garment production workshop in the Joyabad neighborhood, semi-participant observation, and in-depth semi-structured interviews. The researcher established relationships with the women and, with the help of key informants, purposefully selected participants from among the mothers. The interviews were transcribed and analyzed through three stages of coding (open, axial, and selective) using MAXQDA software.
Results: The results indicated that the most important values for marginalized mothers are religious and moral values, and their most significant capacities for transmitting these values to their children are resilience and maintaining hope. They also emphasize the role of continuing education as a way to escape from their state of marginalization.
The analysis revealed three main themes:

Contexts for the Formation of Marginalization:


Rural-to-urban migration: Most families migrated from rural areas of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari and Lorestan provinces with hopes for better job opportunities and access to facilities, but due to lack of capital, education, and skills, they settled in underprivileged areas.
Early marriage: Girls married at young ages (14-16), leading to deprivation of continued education and inability to acquire necessary skills for urban life.
Forced residence: Most women indicated that their choice of residence was driven by economic necessity rather than conscious choice.


Problems and Challenges Facing Mothers:


Economic problems: Unstable employment of men (daily wage or temporary work), low economic participation of women (domestic work with low income and lack of recognition), and double economic pressure (inability to meet basic needs, rent, and constant debt).
Social and environmental harms: Addiction (mentioned in almost all interviews as the most important harm in the neighborhood), social insecurity, social labeling, cultural deprivation (lack of educational classes, libraries, sports and recreational spaces), and limited support.
Women’s role and challenges: Dual role (simultaneously responsible for livelihood and upbringing), gender restrictions, educational deprivation, loneliness in child-rearing, educational concerns, and the presence of problematic subcultures.


Religious and Cultural Values and Their Transmission Methods:


Religiosity and ethics: Adherence to lawful sustenance, prayer, religiosity, social ethics, politeness, honoring elders, and helping others were the most important values mothers emphasized for raising their children.
Hope and resilience: Repeated statements such as “God is great” and “children must study” indicate psychological resilience and hope for the future.
Investment in children’s education: Education was seen as the most important way to break the cycle of poverty.
Positive attitude toward mothers and modeling: Except for one person, all interviewees mentioned their own mothers as role models, expressing great respect for them and considering them successful in child-rearing.

Discussion and Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate the complexity and multifaceted nature of the marginalization phenomenon for mothers residing in the Joyabad neighborhood. These mothers, as the primary custodians of education and value transmission in the family, face numerous challenges rooted in unstable social and economic structures. Factors such as forced migration, early marriage, and unstable economic conditions have contributed to the formation of their marginalized status. In addition to economic problems, marginalized mothers also grapple with social harms such as addiction and environmental insecurity. These conditions not only affect their quality of life but also limit their ability to transmit religious and cultural values to their children. Most of these mothers lack support and alignment from their husbands and living environment in parenting and value transmission.
Despite these challenges, these mothers value moral values and religiosity and strive to raise the next generation with hope and resilience, relying on their own experiences and especially modeling their own mothers. As the codes indicate, the three main themes correspond to the conceptual model of the research, showing that marginalization affects the quality of mothers’ role performance and value transmission. The findings reveal that mothers, through their lived experiences, have acquired educational skills and cultural patterns that can serve as a source of strength, however modest, against limitations. The importance of religiosity, social ethics, and resilience in these mothers’ lives demonstrates their determination and will to improve living conditions and raise healthy and successful children.
Based on these findings, it is essential that policymakers and social institutions examine and identify the capacities and capabilities of marginalized mothers and design support and educational programs tailored to their needs. These measures can help reduce social and economic harms, improve quality of life, and enhance the child-rearing process. Recommendations are proposed at three levels: (1) Micro level (local): creating support and educational groups for mothers, literacy and skill training classes, establishing cultural and social centers, psychological counseling sessions, strengthening local structures, and educational sessions for fathers; (2) Meso level (regional): developing economic empowerment programs for women, facilitating access to financial facilities, supporting women’s entrepreneurship, developing school educational programs and improving education quality in marginalized areas, special attention to teachers and their empowerment, renovating physical spaces, and developing cultural and artistic centers; (3) Macro level (national): developing comprehensive programs to reduce poverty and balanced development, defining strategic action packages for balanced urban development, developing educational justice, attention to rural development and creating sustainable rural employment, reforming social and economic policies, increasing social and cultural awareness, and supporting related research.
It is hoped that the implementation of these recommendations will help improve the living conditions of marginalized mothers while providing the ground for effective transmission of religious and cultural values to children. For future research, comparative studies on the situation of marginalized mothers in different urban and rural areas, analysis of the impact of support programs, investigation of educational patterns of mothers in marginalization conditions, and study of the role of governmental and non-governmental institutions in supporting marginalized mothers are suggested.