Marriage and family formation among the second-generation Afghans in Iran

Mohammad J. Abbasi-Shavazi , University of Tehran
Diana Glazebrook, Australian National University
Gholamreza Jamshidiha, University of Tehran
Hossein Mahmoudian, University of Tehran
Rasoul Sadeghi, University of Tehran

In 2005, around 1.2 million documented Afghans remained in Iran around 33 percent of whom were second-generation, aged 15-29 who were either born in Iran, or arrived in Iran as children and were subsequently raised and educated in Iran. Education, occupational skills, family dynamics, and economic prospects of the second-generation Afghans in Iran have inspired different values and economic aspirations as compared to the first generation, and thus, the former has different perspective towards life in either of their host- or home society. This paper is based on the results of a qualitative study conducted in three settings, and draws on data collected via 80 in-depth interviews and 6 focus group discussions with second generation Afghans in Iran. The paper investigates the integration and identity of the SG Afghans in Iran, but mainly concentrates on their transition to adulthood focusing on marriage and family formation.