Thirteenth Global Studies Conference

Abstract

The trend of globalization has transformed many political, social, and cultural phenomena. The family, as an important building block of society, has not escaped the impact of globalization. Communications technologies that pervade the global community have accelerated the globalisation process. This study is concerned with globalisation and its impact on family affairs. Its aim is to investigate the changes in families based on their opinions about the period before and after the entry of significant internet communications technology into their homes. The changes in the communication and lifestyles of families is discussed, and the key question addressed is: What changes have the globalization trend made to family life? The method of this study is qualitative, and will take the form of deep interviews with 15 families of University of Tehran students. The method of data analysis is content analysis. This research has been designed in accordance with theories addressing family transformation and communications. It is hypothesised that the results of the study will accord with global trends, insofar as that communications technologies have changed Iranian families’ lifestyles. Families are likely to have sensed changes due to new communications processes, including in terms of access to one another and exposure to places far from home, different lifestyles, family values, and cultural plurality.