If you’ve been paying attention to global news, you’ve no doubt been hearing about Iran as well as the rest of the Middle East. Like any other modern group of people, life in the Middle East isn’t always easy to describe using general terms. In fact, day-to-day living for the people in Iran can seemingly change on a dime. As news heats up regarding U.S. aircraft carriers making their way into the Persian Gulf, racketing tensions make it all the more important to understand the Iranian people and what they are going through.
For many in Iran, life isn’t what their parents and grandparents would describe to them. For Iranians who live in urban developments, the majority of housing has been reduced to flats. Traditional residential housing is quickly being phased out for more apartment blocks. Rising land prices coupled with economic problems brought about by trade sanctions have essentially crippled the housing market for most modern Iranians.
To learn more about how trade sanctions are impacting the delivery of humanitarian goods as well as the economy of Iran, you can find further information in this article on sanctions by Amir Handjani. Irrespective of the cause, urban developments in Iran are starting to become endemic of the struggles of the people of Iran.
Further creating large issues for the Iranian people is the divide between liberal and progressive as well as rich and poor. The income gap between the wealthiest people of Iran and the average citizen will leave most people staggering. Consider, a teacher in Iran will make roughly $300USD per month at their job. This sort of income would be intolerable out West but it is considered middle-class by the standards set by the income gap between the rich and the poor.
Soaring inflation rates are further putting a dent in the lifestyle of the average citizen, much less the most vulnerable among them. Having said that, the upper end of the income gap in Iran means that life is good. It is not surprising at all to see the wealthiest people of Tehran, for example, spend north of $100USD on a single meal. In comparison, the average middle-class citizen will dine on simple breakfasts consisting of bread and jam as well as cheese with some tea to wash it all down.
While economic factors may be inhibiting the most vulnerable people of Iran, family values are still extremely important. Family life is as integral to life in Iran as sleeping and eating. As a result of this familial focus, it is not uncommon to see upwards of three generations of a family walking, living, dining, and laughing with one another. To further hammer on this aspect of family life, living on your own is considered extraordinarily bizarre. What’s more, children who are not married are expected to stay with their parents until they leave home for work or school.
Life in Iran is different and the same as many other countries. Due to their geographic location as well as the constant news cycle surrounding the Middle East, it can be hard to come to an understanding of what life is like for the people of Iran.
