The research article by Maryam Vizheh and colleagues, published in Health and Place in 2023, examines the impact of migration and living in Australia on Iranian women’s ability to access and utilize reproductive healthcare services.
This qualitative study of 21 Iranian women in Australia revealed that while their initial reproductive health behaviors are shaped by sociocultural norms from Iran, these women actively develop agency and transform their perspectives in the Australian context. This transformation involves reevaluating beliefs, gaining greater control over their reproductive health, and navigating the cultural differences between their home and host countries. The study also identifies barriers and facilitators to accessing healthcare in Australia, emphasizing the need for culturally sensitive policies and practices to better support immigrant women’s reproductive health needs. Ultimately, the findings highlight the complex interplay between cultural background, migration, and agency in women’s reproductive health decision-making.
How Do Sociocultural Norms from Iran Influence Iranian Immigrant Women’s Agency in Accessing and Utilizing Reproductive Healthcare Services in Australia?
Sociocultural norms from Iran significantly influence Iranian immigrant women’s agency in accessing and utilizing reproductive healthcare services (RHCS) in Australia. While the Australian environment provides greater freedoms, deeply ingrained beliefs and values from their country of origin may initially restrict their agency. However, the migration and settlement process allows these women to become agents of change in their reproductive lives.
- Constraints Due to Sociocultural Norms from the Country of Origin:
• Many Iranian women retain sociocultural beliefs and values from Iran, which shape their healthcare-seeking behaviors in Australia.
• Their experiences with reproductive healthcare services in Iran, especially for unmarried women, were often negative and even traumatic, marked by fear, anxiety, shame, frustration, insecurity, and secrecy, as premarital sex is socially unacceptable.
• Sociocultural norms, sometimes reinforced by Iranian legal regulations, required women to obtain their husbands’ permission before using reproductive healthcare services.
• In Iranian culture, discussions about reproductive health are often associated with modesty and shame, leading to delays in seeking necessary services in Australia.
• Some women continue to feel limited negotiation power regarding certain reproductive health issues in Australia, sometimes requiring their male partners’ permission or financial support. For instance, issues such as sexual dysfunction or reproductive cancer screening may not be considered important by their partners.
• Deeply ingrained cultural norms from Iran may reinforce men’s control over their wives’ healthcare decisions. - Perceived Missed Opportunities:
• Shame, stigma, and anxiety rooted in Iranian cultural norms can lead Iranian immigrant women in Australia to postpone or avoid essential reproductive health examinations and care. Some women describe these feelings as “stupid shame” or “irrational fear.”
• Fear of being judged or labeled may prevent them from seeking services such as STI testing.
• Some study participants expressed regret for compromising their reproductive health due to adherence to these entrenched social norms, sometimes fearing long-term consequences such as infertility or reproductive cancer.
• Unresolved reproductive health concerns can lead to feelings of despair, isolation, frustration, and confusion. - Becoming Agents of Change in Australia:
• The settlement experience in Australia enables Iranian immigrant women to challenge and move beyond the sociocultural norms they were raised with. They begin to deconstruct traditional Iranian beliefs about reproductive health.
• Australia’s “permissive reproductive culture,” which promotes open discussions about reproductive health, contrasts sharply with Iranian norms, allowing women to talk more freely and seek the necessary services without shame.
• Gender equality and the legal protection of women’s rights in Australia help foster women’s agency in making healthcare decisions.
• Many participants in the study demonstrated self-determination and self-efficacy in taking control of their reproductive health in Australia, recognizing their rights, and acting as agents of change.
