Thousands of talented women in Iran are fleeing repression and unemployment, leading to a brain drain in the country. The difficult economic situation and political repression by the government have driven many skilled individuals, including professors, doctors, nurses, and engineers, to leave Iran in search of better opportunities abroad. The Iran Migration Observatory at the Sharif University of Technology has recorded an annual departure of about 65,000 highly qualified individuals over the past decade alone.
Unemployment among women in Iran is particularly high, with only 15% of female students able to secure jobs upon entering the labor market. This, coupled with a crackdown on women’s rights and severe clothing regulations, has further fueled the female brain drain. The Iranian parliament recently passed a law imposing harsher penalties, including up to ten years in prison, on women who fail to adhere to clothing regulations.
Many Iranian women, like Mariam (a pseudonym used to protect her identity), have been forced to emigrate due to the lack of prospects and the oppressive environment in Iran. Mariam, an engineer, felt that no matter how hard she worked, she would never be able to escape the pressures and restrictions placed on women in her country. She sought opportunities to study in Germany and eventually secured a spot in a master’s course, which allowed her to emigrate.
The exodus of female academics not only weakens society’s capacity for democratic and secular demands but also reflects the Iranian rulers’ disinterest in societal reconciliation. Instead, they rely on fear and oppression to maintain power. Sociologist Mehrdad Darvishpour warns that the emigration of talented women will have significant implications, but the government has not publicly addressed this issue or presented plans to stop the brain drain.
Iran is experiencing a significant loss of well-educated and talented individuals each year, with women constituting a significant portion of those leaving the country. The brain drain poses challenges for the country’s future development and reinforces the need for reforms to provide greater opportunities and freedoms for its citizens.
Overall, the ongoing brain drain in Iran highlights the dire circumstances that talented individuals, particularly women, face due to political repression, unemployment, and an oppressive environment. The loss of these skilled individuals not only impacts the country’s development but also represents a failure of the government to address the concerns and aspirations of its citizens.
