At the Faculty of Social Sciences and Cultural Studies, she is exploring how children with Iranian mothers and Afghan fathers construct their social identity. In an interview with HSD Press Officer Tim Wellbrock, she talks about her first months at HSD, her PhD project, and the role that origin, belonging, and social conditions play in identity formation.

I arrived in Düsseldorf on February 9th, and I still remember my very first day at Hochschule Düsseldorf very clearly.
 
On my first day, I had a meeting with Prof. Dr. Susanne Spindler, who kindly accepted me as a visiting scholar, Dr. Monika Katz from the International Office, and Ms. Mariele Eichholz, who supported me with questions related to my admission, registration process, and other administrative matters.
 
What I remember most from that first encounter is the warm and friendly atmosphere they created. They welcomed me not only as an international researcher or a guest from another country, but also as a person with my own experiences and circumstances. At that time, my home country was going through difficult social, political, and economic challenges, and I was also experiencing a period of personal distance from my family.
 
What brought you to Düsseldorf and specifically to HSD?

For PhD students at universities in Iran, there is an opportunity to apply for a research stay at a foreign university by contacting professors whose research interests are related to their own academic work. These research stays usually last at least six months, but depending on the visa conditions and the host institution, they can be extended for another six or even twelve months.
 
When I was looking for a place to conduct my research stay, there were several important factors that influenced my decision. The most important factor was finding a professor whose academic expertise was closely connected to my own field of study.
 
The second factor was that, since I was going to spend a significant period abroad, I preferred to experience academic life in one of the larger cities in Germany, where I could also become familiar with a diverse social and cultural environment.
 
Hochschule Düsseldorf was therefore one of the options I considered, and I feel very fortunate that Prof. Dr. Susanne Spindler accepted my request to join HSD as a visiting scholar. Her expertise, particularly in the fields of migration, refugees, and related social issues, is closely connected to my own research interests.
 
You are researching the topic “Construction of Social Identity among children with Iranian mothers and Afghan fathers”. What exactly is your PhD project about?

My PhD project focuses on the construction of social identity among children who have Iranian mothers and Afghan fathers. More specifically, it examines the experiences of the second generation of Afghan migrants in Iran, with a particular focus on children born from marriages between Iranian women and Afghan men.
 
My interest in this topic developed during my master’s research, when I studied the family lives of Iranian women who were married to Afghan men. During the process of conducting interviews and visiting the families, I gradually became aware of the many challenges that their children experienced.
 
One of the most significant questions that emerged from these encounters was related to identity: How do these children understand themselves? Where do they feel they belong? How do they negotiate their social identity between different backgrounds and social expectations?
 
In my current research, I aim to understand how these children construct their social identities and how factors such as family background, social recognition, belonging, and experiences within society influence their sense of identity.
 
Social identity, as we understand it in sociology, refers to an important part of the way individuals understand and define themselves through their membership in different social groups, categories, and their interactions with society. In other words, it relates to the question of: Who am I in relation to the society I live in and the different groups around me?
 
Why is this research topic socially relevant from your perspective?

The social importance of this topic is closely connected to the broader context of Afghan migration to Iran. Iran is one of the main host countries for Afghan migrants and has received a large Afghan migrant population for several decades. According to the national census conducted in 2016, around 1.5 million Afghan nationals were living in Iran. However, this figure does not include all Afghan migrants, particularly those who are undocumented. More recent official statements have suggested that the number of Afghan migrants in Iran may be significantly higher (around 6 million).
 
Therefore, Afghan migration is an important social issue in Iran, both in terms of the experiences of migrants themselves and the challenges faced by the receiving society.
 
My research focuses on children who were born in Iran, have grown up there, attended schools, built social relationships, and lived their lives within Iranian society, but who also have an Afghan family background through their fathers.
 
What role do origin, family, language, belonging or social attributions play in the identity formation of the children you are studying?

The formation of social identity among the children I study can be understood through the interaction between broader social structures and their everyday lived experiences.
 
The family is not only the first educational and social institution that a child encounters; it is also the first space where children experience the coexistence of two cultural backgrounds and, in some cases, two different legal positions. Having an Iranian mother and an Afghan father can create a complex combination of cultural experiences. For some children, this dual cultural environment can become a source of richness, connection, and belonging, while for others it may create tensions and contradictions.
 
The legal context also plays an important role in these experiences. Historically, there have been differences in the transmission of nationality through mothers and fathers in Iran, and this has affected the legal status and sense of security of many children born from Iranian-Afghan marriages. Although legal reforms have created the possibility for Iranian mothers to transfer nationality to their children, challenges in the implementation process still remain. As a result, the Afghan origin of the father can influence the social and legal position of the child and may affect whether they feel fully recognized as a member of Iranian society or experience themselves as an “other.”
 
Language, however, can also function as a connecting factor. Persian language creates a shared point of communication between Iran and Afghanistan, despite differences in accents and dialects.
 
The sense of belonging among these children is therefore not fixed or predetermined. Depending on their personal experiences and the reactions they receive from their surroundings—both at the individual level and the structural level—they may define themselves in different ways. Some may develop a strong sense of belonging to Iranian society, the place where they were born and raised. Others may feel a strong connection to their Afghan heritage and their father’s cultural background. Some may experience their identity as a space between these two backgrounds.
 
In addition, the social labels and perceptions that society assigns to individuals have a significant influence. Society, including the media and dominant cultural narratives, can reproduce certain stereotypes about migrants, particularly Afghan migrants in Iran. When these children encounter such stereotypes and social attitudes, they may experience feelings of ambiguity, negotiation, or tension in defining who they are.
 
Are there aspects of your research that are also interesting for other migration societies, for example Germany or Europe?

Germany is one of the countries with a long history of immigration and has experienced different phases of migration as well as different migration policies over time. The experiences of large migrant communities, such as people with Turkish backgrounds in Germany, demonstrate the importance of understanding questions of belonging, recognition, identity formation, and social integration across generations.
 
Although the historical, cultural, and legal contexts may differ, similar questions of belonging, recognition, and identity formation arise across generations.
 
You are being supervised at the Faculty of Social Sciences and Cultural Studies by Prof. Susanne Spindler. How do you experience the academic exchange at HSD?

After my arrival at HSD, my experience with academic exchange has been extremely positive. From my very first meeting with Prof. Dr. Spindler, I have experienced not only academic support but also kindness, understanding, and personal encouragement.
 
One of the memorable experiences during my research stay was participating in a migration-related conference in Hamburg together with Prof. Dr. Spindler. This was a completely new and valuable experience for me.
 
Another valuable experience was giving two presentations at HSD at Prof. Dr. Spindler’s suggestion: one for bachelor’s students and another for master’s students. In these presentations, I discussed Afghan migrants in Iran as well as the current social and political situation in my home country. Presenting to students with different cultural backgrounds, experiences, and nationalities was a very enriching experience for me.
 
These opportunities have contributed greatly to my academic and personal development. I have also discussed with Prof. Dr. Spindler the possibility of developing a joint publication in the future. I hope that this academic collaboration can continue beyond my current research stay.
 
Your stay has now been extended until mid-December. What does this extension mean for your research and your further work?

I arrived in Germany at the beginning of the year, and my visa was initially valid until mid-June. However, during these six months, my home country was experiencing a particularly difficult situation, and this had a significant impact on my concentration and my ability to fully benefit from my research stay.
 
Although I was able to participate in academic activities and make valuable experiences, I felt that I had not been able to take full advantage of this opportunity in the way I had hoped. Therefore, I decided to extend my research stay.
 
And, of course, after experiencing a cold German winter, I also wanted to have the chance to experience the beautiful German summer! This is partly a joke, but it is true that Germany is especially beautiful during the summer months. More importantly, staying longer allows me to experience more of the academic and cultural environment here and make the most of this opportunity.
 
What do you hope for during the rest of your time at HSD, and what would you like to take with you from Düsseldorf for your academic career?

Looking back on my research stay, I can honestly say that I have experienced everything I had hoped for when I decided to come to Hochschule Düsseldorf. The supportive academic environment that I found here has exceeded my expectations and has greatly enriched both my academic and personal development.
 
I would especially like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Prof. Dr. Susanne Spindler. During a period when my home country was facing difficult social and political circumstances, and I was going through many uncertainties, her encouragement, understanding, and kindness meant a great deal to me.
 
I would also like to thank Ms. Mariele Eichholz from the International Office. Throughout the entire application and admission process, she patiently answered my questions and provided invaluable support.
 
My thanks also go to Ms. Sandra Lersch, whose work in coordinating international exchange activities created many opportunities for international researchers to connect with the university community. Through the events she and her colleagues organized, I had the pleasure of meeting many wonderful people. These events made me feel genuinely welcomed as part of the HSD community.
 
Ms. Amiri, thank you for this interview.​​