A Qualitative Exploration of Café Culture As a Hidden Life for Girls

This qualitative study, employing grounded theory methodology, aimed to analyze the significance of cafs as a "hidden life" for young women in Shiraz.In-depth interviews were conducted with 30 unmarried girls aged 16-35, resulting in 14 main categories, 117 subcategories, and a central category: "the tendency to live in secret."Findings reveal that societal pressures, family restrictions, cultural violence, extremist beliefs, and economic problems are causal conditions contributing to this phenomenon.These factors align with feminist perspectives, which highlight patriarchal structures and social inequality as root causes of gender-based restrictions and violence.Background conditions such as increased awareness, financial independence, and lifestyle changes also play a role.These factors contribute to women's agency, empowering them to challenge patriarchal norms and make their own choices.Interventionist conditions, including identity changes, can lead to strategies such as individualism, fashionism, consumerism, and competition.These strategies can result in value transformation and distance from the family center.In conclusion, this study sheds light on the significance of cafs as a refuge for young women seeking to escape societal pressures and explore new identities.It highlights the complex interplay of societal factors, personal agency, and identity formation in shaping women's experiences in contemporary society.