The Emergence of Self-Oriented and Critical Student Identity in the 2010s: A Case Study of Female High School Students in Andisheh City

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Author
Mohammad Molaabbasi
Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences, Allameh Tabataba’i University, Tehran, Iran
10.22034/acmj.2026.599677.1020
Abstract
The present study aims to examine student identity among high school girls of the 1380s (2010s) in the city of Andisheh. This research was conducted using a qualitative approach and thematic content analysis. The study population consisted of girls who attended secondary school during the 1380s (2010s) in Shahriar’s schools. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 12 participants, using purposive sampling until data saturation was reached. Data analysis was carried out with MAXQDA software and included open coding, theme extraction, and interpretation. The findings indicate that this generation’s student identity is being redefined across four main domains: family, school, peers, and the social environment. 1380s (2010s) students seek relationships based on mutual respect and consultation within the family; they adopt a critical and individual-oriented view toward school and accept teachers only if they perceive them as friends and supporters. They consider much of the formal curriculum ineffective and value psychological and social skills more highly. In peer relations, friendship and solidarity are emphasized in identity formation. These changes reflect a shift in the attitudes and expectations of the new generation of students towards social institutions.
Keywords
Student identity
Education system
Lived experience
Family
Friendship
Social environment
Subjects
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Art, Culture and Media

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 04 October 2026

  • Receive Date 02 September 2026
  • Revise Date 18 September 2026
  • Accept Date 18 September 2026
  • Publish Date 04 October 2026