The Role of Urbanization in the Modernization of Social Values with in the Kurdish Family

A Field Study in the City of Erbil

Abstract

Urbanization is one of the most crucial worldwide phenomena which functions as a major operator of social and cultural changes. In Kurdish society, especially in Erbil city, there has been rapid urban developments in the last few decades, which has been the reason for the creation of a dynamic interplay between traditional values and modern lifestyles. The main objective of this research is to explore the role of urbanization in the transformation of social values within Kurdish families. The study aims to examine the extent to which modern values are adopted, the impact of the urban environment on family structure and behavior.

To achieve these objectives, a quantitative research method was followed, and a questionnaire tool was used to collect data. The research population consisted of families in the city of Erbil, and a purposive sample of 390 families was selected from 13 different neighborhoods of the city, representing various levels of social and economic status. The reliability of the research scale was 86.22%, and the placement (Cronbach's Alpha) was 0.771, which indicates a high level of reliability. The main findings of the research reveal that the process of modernization within Kurdish families is complex. On one hand, there is a noticeable acceptance of certain modern values, such as mixed-gender education. The research also discovered a strong relationship between new media and consumer culture. Moreover, differences in lifestyles between the various neighborhoods of the city were identified, which reflects the diversity of urban culture.