大象传媒

Congratulations to Marjan Heirati for successfully defending her MA thesis titled 鈥淟egal Awareness and Domestic Violence: The Case of Iranian Immigrant Women in Canada.鈥�

Abstract

This research examines Iranian immigrant women鈥檚 legal awareness of Canadian family law with a focus on domestic violence, its causes, and challenges to address it among Iranian immigrant families living in Canada using a qualitative approach through in-depth interviews. Liberal Feminist Theory was employed as an interpretive lens to further analyze the data, allowing for a broader understanding of how gendered power dynamics and legal structures influence Iranian immigrant women鈥檚 experiences of the intersection of immigration, patriarchy and domestic violence. Findings reveal a complex relationship between cultural norms, immigration-related vulnerabilities, and institutional barriers, all of which shape women鈥檚 decisions regarding help-seeking behaviours. Findings also show that while legal resources are available, Iranian immigrant victims of domestic violence face structural, cultural, and linguistic barriers that limit their access to justice. This thesis contributes to socio-legal scholarship by highlighting the need for culturally responsive legal education and support services, and it calls for policy reforms that address the intersectional needs of immigrant women affected by domestic violence.