The number of Iranians in the United States is difficult to determine, with estimates ranging from 400,000 to over one million with half of them living in California. The terms Persian and Iranian are used interchangeably in this chapter because some people call themselves Persian for historical and political reasons. In 1935, the country's name was changed from Persia to Iran to present an image of progress and in an attempt to unify into one nation the enormous diversity of urban dwellers and rural tribes, ethnic groups, and social classes. Between 1930 and 1970, women were allowed to go unveiled and gained access to university education. After conservative Moslem protests that led to the 1978 violence, martial law was declared and an Islamic government was established. Since then, Iran resembles the more conservative Muslim countries. Iranians are among the most highly educated immigrant group in the United States. Education is greatly valued, and advanced degrees are highly respected. Children are expected to do well in school and to attend college. Many middle-aged physicians, engineers, professors, army generals, and government officials who were unable to find comparable work in the United States have gone into business for themselves. Jobs that require manual labor are not respected, and some cannot accept taking such menial jobs often because of their limited skills in English.
