Crossing Continents: Significance of Education in Facilitating Iranian Women's Emigration to North America

• In Event: Educational Discourses on Crossing Borders and Continents

Abstract

The establishment of the Islamic Republic of Iran in 1979 following the Islamic revolution of 1978 has had thirty-six years of grave ramifications for the Iranian people around the world. In spite of prevailing political complexities, Iranian migration to North America through education, immigration, or as refugees has been rapidly rising. This study explores the factors that serve as motivators in encouraging Iranians to immigrate and set roots in other countries and the role of education in providing them a path for their journey. The research question for this paper is: how significant is pursuit of higher education, and education in general, in facilitating emigration of Iranians from Iran and their immigration to countries such as Canada and the US?

Author

• Bita H Zakeri, Indiana University - Bloomington