A study on the lived experiences of women who migrated to Turkey after the 1979 Iranian Islamic Revolution: The case of Ankara

This thesis examines migration not merely as a process of spatial relocation, but as a multidimensional field of transformation in which identity, belonging, and political subjectivity are reproduced alongside economic, political, and socio-cultural dimensions. Within the framework of classical and contemporary migration theories, particular attention is paid, through a gender perspective, to the decisive role of individual experiences, social networks, and cultural interactions in shaping migration decisions. In this context, the study focuses on Iranian women who migrated to Turkey after the 1979 Iranian Islamic Revolution and currently reside in Ankara, highlighting the impact of the theocratic structure institutionalized in the post-revolutionary period on women's everyday life practices. Conducted using qualitative methods, the study analyzes women's pre- and post-migration experiences through in-depth interviews. In Iran, the historical and political transformations following the 1979 Revolution have directly influenced migration movements. The findings indicate that the theocratic regime has established ideological control over women's bodies and public visibility, transforming these into domains of political power. In response, women have sought to expand their agency by developing strategies of compliance and everyday resistance. Limitations in education, employment, and individual freedoms have thus turned migration into a strategy for constructing an alternative life. In conclusion, the study demonstrates that the experiences of Iranian women constitute a dynamic field shaped at the intersection of state policies, cultural norms, and individual strategies, while migration gives rise to hybrid forms of identity and belonging between two cultures.