A Phenomenological Study of Female and Feminist Identities Among Iranian Muslim Immigrant Women

Abstract

Little is known about Iranian Muslim immigrant women in the US with respect to their female and feminist identities and the interconnections with Islam and immigration. The aim in the current study was to provide detailed answers to the research questions using diagrammatic elicitation, semi-structured individual interviews, and observation as the primary tools for collecting data. Two themes—immigration and experiencing more freedom and autonomy and immigration and different conditions—emerged through diagrammatic elicitation. Five themes emerged during the interviews. These themes included experiencing social change and a new definition of the situation, experiencing different values, empowerment and emancipation, fulfillment of needs, and self-image. Three themes appeared from observation of the participants in the group meetings: gender identity versus national and religious identities, America the land of opportunities, and to be or not be is the question. The current study suggests that the participants are experiencing a sort of gender consciousness and agency.