Problems of Persian Immigrants in the US

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This paper will be concerned with the social problems and economic struggles experienced by Persian immigrants in the United States. The immigration of Persians to the United States was greatly increased following the 1979 Iranian Revolution in which the Ayatollah Khomeini took over leadership of the government from the Shah. Khomeini's new government was strongly based on the values of the Moslem religion. As a result, severe restrictions were placed on virtually every aspect of Iranian life. This change disrupted the lives and security of many of Iran's citizens. This was especially true in the case of the nation's nonMoslem minorities, such as the Bahais, Zoroastrians, Christians and Jews. As a result of the Moslem takeover in Iran, all men, regardless of their beliefs, were forced to adhere to Moslem religious customs and to abandon any elements of Westernization in their lifestyles. Even stronger restrictions were placed on women, who were no longer permitted to wear makeup, expose their hair, or wear flattering clothes. In order to avoid the stimulation of sexual excitement, women were expected to wear the traditional chador, a long black cloth covering the entire body except the eyes.

By merging religion and government, Khomeini's government began to systematically destroy the cultural values of Iran's nonMoslem minorities. Furthermore, for the nation's religious minorities, "the new Muslim nationalist state was a hostile environment" (Reimers 118). Many pe

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unds. Many Persians had to leave Iran hastily when the Ayatollah Khomeini took power, and were thus unable to get all their financial assets together in time. For example, when the Iranian Revolution occurred, "many Jews borrowed all they could, packed the cash in suitcases and hopped the next plane" (Spero 20). Many Persians thus found themselves in a strange land, unemployed, with "little idea of how to start a business or get a job" (21). The economic difficulties of Persian immigrants in America is complicated by the extreme differences between the American and Iranian ways of life. For example, in America, credit is an economic necessity. Obtaining good credit in America requires a good credit rating and good relations with a banking institution. This is a strange concept to Persians, who are accustomed to borrowing and lending money strictly on trust. As noted by one Persian immigrant, in the old country, "you pull a hair from your moustache as a signature of trust . . . you don't need a check" (Christon 8). Likewise, Persian immigrants do not immediately understand the concept of mortgage when it comes to buying a house. In this regard, one Persian immigrant has noted that the way in Iran was to buy everything st
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Approximate Word count = 1917
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page)

Problems of Persian Immigrants in the US

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