Iranian Migration to Sweden: Identity-Processes and Integration Strategies Among Iranian Immigrant Men and Women

Abstract: Previous research has showed that Iranian immigrant women integrate easier and have a more positive attitude towards the Swedish society than Iranian men when they resettle here. In light of this, I employ a gender and social identity approach with the intent to understand the integration differences between Iranian immigrant men and women from Iran who live in Sweden. Gender and social identity theories have been used to understand why there is a difference in identity-processes between Iranian immigrant men and women. The analysis of these identity processes has then been applied to the acculturation model of Kinnvall and Nesbitt-Larking in order to understand the integration strategies and outcomes between the genders. The study utilizes a qualitative content analysis approach and draws on secondary data sources with emphasis on theory. The research discusses that Iranian immigrant men have a higher risk of going through an identity-crisis because of their gender and social identity being previously connected to a high-status, authoritarian, male-dominated position in society. The reaction of the different identity-processes that Iranian immigrant men and women go through during a resettlement can then result in retreatism or essentialism among the Iranian immigrant men, and engagement among the Iranian immigrant women. This results in a more positive integration among Iranian immigrant women and a more difficult integration among Iranian immigrant men.