Drawing on the 'multidimensional' model of acculturation (Schwartz et al., 2010; Mendoza, 2016), this study explores the experiences and attitudes of seven Iranian mixed-gender adolescents, from two groups of refugees and... [ view full abstract ]
Drawing on the 'multidimensional' model of acculturation (Schwartz et al., 2010; Mendoza, 2016), this study explores the experiences and attitudes of seven Iranian mixed-gender adolescents, from two groups of refugees and immigrants, with regard to their language, identity, and acculturation in Australia. The recruited participants belong to ‘1.5 generation’ (Rumbaut, 2004), were between 12 to 18 years old at the time of interview, and had lived in Australia for a minimum of three years. The semi-structured interview results have highlighted adolescents’ enthusiasm towards retaining the Persian language to maintain contacts with their relatives and friends in Iran and to enjoy many other benefits the language may offer them in the future. The second finding concerns the perplexity of the participants about choosing between the two existing terms, ‘Persia and Iran’, as well as ‘Persian and Iranian’, to refer to their homeland and identity, respectively. Third, as for parents-child relationships in the new context, a low degree of intergenerational conflicts has been reported which could signify parents’ efforts to come to terms with the Australian norms and culture. Next, with respect to acculturation, they have shown preference for different cultural orientations (e.g., cultural shift, cultural resistance, cultural transmutation) in different domains- ‘cultural eclecticism’ (Mendoza, 2016). Interestingly, boys criticized the patriarchal structure of the Iranian society and advocated equal rights and freedom for women. However, unlike what is normally observed in Iran, girls expressed their interest in working from young ages, becoming financially independent, and living with their partner or on their own after reaching eighteen.
