InZentIM

My research centers on the experiences of first-generation Iranian migrant mothers in Germany, a group commonly regarded as educated and well-integrated, yet still subject to targeted "integration" policies and societal expectations. These mothers, often suspected of transmitting "wrong" cultural resources, navigate complex landscapes shaped by migration policies and public narratives that categorize them as voluntary/involuntary migrants, insiders/outsiders, and those requiring "integration." 

This work explores how these policies challenge the mothers' sense of belonging and capability in building new "homes". Employing an intersectional lens, I examine the interplay of class, socioeconomic status, migration status, and gender, considering how legal precarity, family reunion visas, and racialized subject positions affect their temporal, spatial, and emotional journeys. I challenge the perception of these mothers as mere recipients of services, highlighting their agency, paid and unpaid labor, and their contributions to transforming racialized notions of citizenship. I investigate how they navigate dominant mothering norms and values in relation to their pre-existing class-specific habitus, which influences their child-rearing practices. My research explores how first-generation Iranian mothers, with their diverse national and ethnic backgrounds, experience migration in Germany within the context of legal, political, and bureaucratic categorizations. I delve into their subjective understanding of "integration" as they navigate new social structures while living transnational diasporic lives. I also examine how they utilize different forms of capital, resources, and assets to seize opportunities or avoid hindrances in their trajectory in Germany, and how they (fail to) build new "homes." Drawing on the concept of the "race-migration nexus," I address the issue of racism experienced by migrants, while also considering Iranians' complex relationship with race and whiteness. I explore the concept of "being but not belonging" and the diverse ethnic backgrounds within the Iranian diaspora. This research aims to contribute to a more nuanced understanding of the hybridity and complexity of post-migration trajectories, challenging Western conceptions and ethnocentricity in analyzing mothering practices. Ultimately, I seek to illuminate how these mothers navigate and reshape their identities, homes, and sense of belonging in their "host" country.

Laufzeit:
04/2025 – 04/2029

Bearbeitung:
Mahtab Dadarsefatmahboob

Betreuung:
Jun.-Prof. Dr. Judith Purkarthofer
Prpf. Dr. Helen Baykara-Krumme