TO THE LAND OF OPPORTUNITY: LEADERSHIP JOURNEYS OF PERSIAN IMMIGRANT WOMEN IN THE UNITED STATES

Author

Shaima Khinjani

Year of Award

2023

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Type

Doctor of Education (EdD)

Degree Name

Educational Leadership

Department or School/College

Phyllis J. Washington College of Education

Committee Chair

William P. McCaw

Commitee Members

Patty Kero, John Matt, Frances L. O'Reilly, Mehrdad Kia

Publisher

University of Montana

Abstract

How have barriers shaped the experience of Persian women holding leadership positions in the United States? Using a qualitative approach, this research studied the lived experience of immigrant women from Persian-speaking countries and the challenges of their leadership journey in the United States. The data from the lived experiences of twelve women in leadership positions with one-to-one Zoom meetings were collected using interactive interviews. Raw transcriptions of their experiences were analyzed using the descriptive phenomenological approach outlined by Giorgi (2009). This approach allowed for the data to be reduced into a single narrative description shared by all participants indicating the essence of their lived experience as immigrant women in leadership positions.

The findings suggested that the immigrant women from Persian-speaking countries referenced numerous cultural, social, religious, linguistic, and economic challenges to achieve and sustain a leadership position in the United States. Their experiences indicated that work-life balance, adapting and assimilating into American society and the work environment is extremely challenging. As female immigrants, the participants shared similar identities: first-generation immigrants, wives, mothers, and professional women. They have more responsibilities than their male peers because, in their culture, women take more responsibility for caring for the family. Adapting to a new culture, difficult times in their upward mobility, and implicit and explicit bias were examples of barriers to overcome. Each of these challenges may thwart the development of a young leader’s confidence and self-esteem. Despite the great challenges, the immigrant women in this study were able to embrace their new country and become successful leaders. All they needed was opportunities and the right types of support to succeed.

Recommended Citation

Khinjani, Shaima, "TO THE LAND OF OPPORTUNITY: LEADERSHIP JOURNEYS OF PERSIAN IMMIGRANT WOMEN IN THE UNITED STATES" (2023). Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers. 12165.
https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd/12165