Encountering differences: Iranian immigrant women in Australia

Abstract

The primary objective of this chapter is to explore the changes in Iranian women’s gender identity that may occur following their migration to Australia. I explore the hypothesis that the change in the sociocultural context of immigrants provides them with the chance to explore new possibilities, and make modifications in their attitudes towards gender roles. I further explore the extent to which Iranian migrant women in Australia have been able or willing to integrate the two sets of values and roles (home and host culture), with respect to gender role and gender status, within the family as well as in the wider society. Compared to Australia, Iran is a country with relatively more patriarchal sociocultural and familial values and norms, which have resulted in imposing high gender limitations on women. The sanctity of the family in the Iranian Civil Code has resulted in various sociocultural, familial, and at times legal restrictions that constrain women from freely engaging in professional and social activities outside the family. Australia, on the contrary, promotes relatively more egalitarian laws and practices with respect to gender roles. Hence, the acculturation process of Iranian women migrating to Australia can influence their gender identities and roles, either by entrenching traditional values and roles, or by challenging and changing them.