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Who Are We? Iranian-American Community

Survey 2005

Farzan Parsinejad, Ph.D.Iranian Studies Group at MIT

http://web.mit.edu/isg/

Mehregan 3rd Annual Seminar: Reflections of Iranian Identity Through Time

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What is ISG? Iranian Studies Group (ISG) at MIT

A non-partisan, non-profit, academic organization with the goal of promoting Iranian civil society through conducting research on issues related to the Iranian society in Iran and abroad

ISG Activities ISG Research Projects Iran Analysis Quarterly Journal ISG Lecture Series

ISG aims to bridge the gap between research, public knowledge, and

policy-making to create a network of academics, community leaders and

interested individuals in Iran, the U.S., and other parts of the world

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Organization Board of Directors

Overseeing activities and general guidelines5 academics and 2 business/community leaders

Executive Board

In charge of managing research strategy and tactics Currently 1 M.S., 2 Doctoral Students, 3 Ph.D.’s

Research AssociatesConducting research projects under supervision of executivesCurrently 10 Ph.D. Candidates, Academics and Professionals

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Motivations of Survey Census data not sufficient in understanding the

characteristics, needs and concerns of individuals in the Iranian American community.

Assess the perception of individuals of Iranian ancestry of the Iranian American community and potential common values, needs and concerns.

The results of the survey can provide community leaders with information on how better serve the community

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Survey Basics

• Online between January-March 2005

• 3880 Valid Responses

• 62.4% male respondents, 37.6% female respondents

• Around 60% Naturalized U.S. Citizens (first generation IA), 12% U.S.-born, 12% permanent residents, 8% students , and the rest asylees, skilled workers, etc.

• Average age of respondents between 35-49

• Average education of respondents, B.S. and then M.S. degree

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Immigration Period

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

1940-1959 1960-1969 1970-1979 1980-1989 1990-1999 2000-Present

7 Iranian Studies Group at MITPersian

77%

Arab 1%

Azari10%

Baluchi0.5%

Armenian1%

Kurdish 4%

Gilak 3%

Lor2% Turkmen

1%

Assyrian1%

Ethnicity

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Muslim 49%

Agnostic 9%

Atheist9%

Spiritual (no organized religious affiliation)

21%

Baha’I3%

Christian 3%

Jewish 3%

Zorasthrian 3%

Religion Diversity

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0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Muslim Christian Jewish Baha'i Zorastherian

comfortable in practicing NOT comfortable in practicing Does NOT practice

Religion

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Family Structure

If not single, more than 80% are married which is higher compared to the Nation.

3% live with partner which is less than Nation

15% are divorced which is less than the Nation

If divorced, the custody of children in 75% of the cases are by women

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0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

Iranian American ofIranian Ancestry

American OtherNationalities

Family Structure: Spouse's Background

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0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

English Persian My ethnic language

Language Spoken at Home

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0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

1-2 3-5 6 or more Never

How Often Have Your Children Visited Iran?

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0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%

Persian language

Ethnic language

My Ethnicity

Traditions and Festivities

Religion

History

Music

Literature

Politics

Important Aspects of Iranian Culture in Children Education

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Most Appealing Aspects of the Culture

1.Cuisine

2.Family values

3.Language, Traditions and Humor

4.Festivities, Traditional music, Popular music and Movies

5.Religion and Mysticism

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0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

Language barrier Cultural differences Family values Religiousdifferences

Political/Ideologicaldifferences

Assimilation: Difficulty in Adjusting to Live in US

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0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

daily weekly monthly rarely never

Frequency of Interaction with Iranians

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0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Asia

ns (e

.g.

Ch

ine

se, e

tc.)

Ind

ian

s/Pa

kistan

is

Ara

bs

Oth

er M

idd

leE

aste

rn

We

stern

Eu

rop

ea

ns

Ea

stern

Eu

rop

ea

ns

La

tin A

me

rican

s

Africa

n

Am

erica

n

Frequency of Socializing with Non-Iranians

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Always2%

Often8%

Sometimes32%

Rarely40%

Never18%

Discrimination!!

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0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5

Cost of living

Being close to Iraniancommunity

Climate condition

Job opportunities

Education

Important Factors in Choosing Where to Live

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0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4

U.S. media coverage of Iran (CNN, Fox, New YorkTimes etc.)

Iran-based media (State Television, State radio,online newspapers)

Iranian Expatriate internet sites (Gooya, Payvand,Iranian.com, etc.)

Iranian Expatriate Satellite Television (SouthernCalifornia)

Iranian Expatriate radio stations

News email lists from friends or organizations

Sources of News About Iran

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0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5

Removal of sanctionsby the U.S.

Favorable politicaldevelopments in Iran

Favorable economicopportunities in Iran

Improved asset andhuman security in Iran

Investment in Iran

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0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5

Lack of perceivedcommon threat

Lack of vision for acommon future

Apathy

Lack ofpriority/time/commitment

Individualism: agenda,vision etc

Impediments to Our Unity

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Persian-American

5%

Iranian-American

13%

Depends on the situation

10%American

2%

Iranian44%

Persian26%

Finally, Who Are We?

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Summary The ISG Iranian-American Survey 2005 provides

abundant information on the different aspects of the Iranian-American community and will be repeated every year with various foci.

The information presented here is only a selected overview of the survey results.

Main results are to come: More on cross correlations Analysis

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AcknowledgementMehregan Foundation

Mrs. Frances Nedjat HaiemMr. Bruce Bahmani

Ms. Noosheen HashemiDr. Akbar Mahdi

Mr. Darr HashempourDr. Mohammad Ala

Dr. Mohammad NavabMs. Dokhi FassihianMr. Hossein HosseiniMr. Behrouz VakiliMr. Shahriar Afshar

Dr. David RahniMr. Alireza Taghi

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Demographic

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

somehighschool

highschooldiploma

B.S. M.S. Ph.D. DMD, JDetc.

Education

ISG Survey

Census 2000

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DemographicAge Distribution

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

18-24 25-34 35-49 50-64 65 and above

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Demographic

Up to$24,999

$25,000-$49,999

$50,000-$74,999

$75,000-$99,999

$100,000-$199,999

$200,000-$499,999

$500,000and above

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

Household Income

Average IncomeCensus 2000

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challenges in adjustment for living in the US (1-5)

0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3

Language barrier

Cultural differences

Family values

Religious differences

Political/Ideological differences