Abstract
The present study was conducted with the aim of developing a conceptual model of men's authority from the perspective of wives, using a qualitative approach. The research method was conventional qualitative content analysis. The participants consisted of 20 married women who were selected through purposive sampling based on the principle of data adequacy. Data were collected via semi structured interviews and analyzed through a three stage coding process including initial coding, subcategory development, and main category identification. To enhance the trustworthiness of the findings, member check and peer check procedures were employed; accordingly, the extracted codes and main categories were presented to the participants and their feedback was incorporated. Additionally, two specialists in the field of family reviewed the coding process and confirmed the appropriateness of the codes with the interview data. The findings led to a conceptual model comprising seven main categories: strategic capability, support, education, participation, provision, effective communication, and training. The results indicated that from the wives' perspective, constructive male authority is a functional role based on responsibility, prudence, and provision, whose ultimate legitimacy depends on the wife's voluntary acceptance and empowerment. Furthermore, the gap between the man's managerial perception and the woman's emotional experience was identified as the most significant challenge in realizing this model. This model provides a native framework for understanding the dynamics of authority in contemporary families and can be utilized in designing educational, counseling, and policy making programs in the field of family.