Dual Spacisations: A Case Study of Iranian American Weblogs

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to study how online transnational spaces are created in blogs by Iranians who are residents of America. In cyberspace, place, to a large extent, loses its importance; online transnational spaces can thus provide possible virtual return for Iranian migrants in the US. Using planned sampling, this paper analyses the migration narratives of 15 Persian language blogs written by Iranians in the United States of America through qualitative content analysis. The bloggers were sorted into three categories of identity: Iranian-Ancient Identity, Iranian-Islamic Identity and Iranian-American Identity. Most bloggers belonged to the third category of identities. The research showed that although the Iranian migrant bloggers are loyal to their place of origin, they defined themselves as Iranian-American. This identity-making is not in contrast with neither Iranian nor American identity, but it is indicated in the form of a connection.