Living between two cultures
Subtitle: the acculturation experiences of young Iranian immigrant women in Canada.
Published: 2004
Language: eng
Number of pages: 234
Subjects: Iranians -- Canada.; Women immigrants -- Canada.; Acculturation -- Canada.; Women -- Sexual behavior.
Description: The purpose of this study was to examine the acculturation experiences of young women who emigrated from Iran to Canada. The emphasis was on understanding the unique and complex processes of negotiating a changed sense of identity following immigration from Iran to Canada. In-depth interviews were conducted with eight Iranian immigrant women in their early 20's who immigrated to Canada between the ages of 13 to 20 years. Qualitative analyses of the interviews led to the emergence of four overarching themes and related sub-themes.The first overarching theme was silencing of sexuality. The young women's descriptions revealed seven major dimensions of silencing of their sexuality, including smothering of the sexual aspects of identity, lack of a comfortable 'space' and language to discuss sexual matters, limited routes to express sexuality, designation of women as responsible for maintaining family honor, gender-related double standards regarding sexual behavior, threat of becoming a Western woman, and penalties for becoming a Western woman. Another overarching theme was reclaiming of sexuality. Two central dimensions of this theme included acquiring sexual expression despite barriers and controls over sexuality, and honoring own values and beliefs regarding sexual behavior.An additional aspect of the young women's experiences of adjustment to the Canadian society was captured by the overarching theme of self in flux. This theme represented participants' experiences of ongoing transformations in their identity, induced by shifting cultural contexts. Four central dimensions of this theme included experiences of being torn apart by contradictory expectations of Iranian and Canadian cultures, feeling bound by gender-based restrictions, constructing the self in relation to what is expected and accepted by both Iranian and Canadian cultures, and being 'the other' in the context of relationships with Iranians and Canadians. The last overarching theme was reconstructing the self, which represented the young women's attempts to regain control and personal power in their lives. Four central dimensions of this theme included gaining independence, choosing validating social contexts, demanding egalitarian relationships, and shifting from dogma to faith. These findings and the implications of the study are discussed in relation to the existing research literature on acculturation.
Notes: Adviser:  Niva Piran.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Toronto, 2004.

Electronic version licensed for access by U. of T. users.

Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 65-05, Section: A, page: 1680.