نوع مقاله : مقاله پژوهشی
موضوعات
عنوان مقاله English
نویسندگان English
The present study explores the meanings and uses of motorcycles among young people in Aliabad-e Katul County. Considering the social and cultural roles of commodities in everyday life, we aim to analyze how local youth interpret the motorcycle as a meaningful object. Drawing on the theories of Mary Douglas, Helga Dittmar, and Grant McCracken, the motorcycle is examined as both a cultural commodity and an identity-forming tool. Data were collected through an ethnographic approach, employing techniques such as field observation, focus group discussions, and semi-structured and in-depth interviews with 40 young participants. The data were then coded and analyzed.
Findings indicate that, for these young people, the motorcycle represents more than just a means of transportation; it embodies symbolic meanings such as independence, power, and maturity. These meanings are rooted in local agrarian cultural patterns and have been socially accepted as a framework for identity construction. Ultimately, by focusing on the use of motorcycles and the condition of youth independence, this study identifies four distinct types of young motorcyclists:Novice (initiating rites of passage), Conservative (testing independence), Active (at the peak of rites and achieving independent identity), and Mature (returning to the original meaning and function—the integration phase).
کلیدواژهها English
