“While I’ve had the privilege of supportive parents and a husband who always encouraged me—both financially and emotionally—to pursue my education, the broader context in Iran is different. The oppressive regime does not advocate for women’s independence or lives beyond traditional roles,” Mahjoub explains. “Despite this, women continue to push boundaries, particularly in higher education, where there’s a surprising gender gap in their favour due to resilience against imposed restrictions. I see this collective movement as a form of resistance,” she adds.
As part of our Scholars in Education series, we spoke with Mahjoub about her educational background, her path to graduate studies at the University of Ottawa, and on being among the first recipients of the Flight PS752 Commemorative Scholarship Program from Global Affairs Canada.
Tell us about your background and path to doctoral research.
I was doing a bachelor’s degree in English Literature in my home province in northern Iran when I started teaching English as a second language to teenagers and adults. During my last semester, I was stopped by a security guard because of the way I was wearing my hijab. It was scary. I didn't tell my parents then because I knew it would make them anxious. Despite being at the top of my class, my name was removed from the list for entry into the master’s program. So, I studied harder and got accepted by a better university. It changed my life. For my master’s, I moved to Tehran, lived on my own and got to be independent. Towards the end of my studies, it was a very hectic period. I was finishing my degree, getting married, and thinking about moving to a new country. Everything was happening at the same time! But I was determined that this is what I wanted to do. After graduation, I decided to go after my all-time goal of pursuing a PhD in Canada.
What inspired you to research women in STEM?
When I finished my PhD course work, I was reading a lot on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education and the under representation of women in the field. I was also revisiting my personal interests and values. One day I was scrolling Instagram, and I came upon an Iranian female engineer’s account. The way she presented herself and her career, capturing different aspects of her life, sparked the idea for my doctoral project. When I think about why this subject resonates with me, I can trace it back to my roots as an Iranian woman. I come from a country where women are fighting for equal opportunities and against discrimination and oppression. Coming from this background and learning about the global gender disparities in STEM and why the presence of women matters, I was curious to learn more about the underlying reasons for the divide and how it could be changed. It is this advocacy mindset behind my research that keeps me motivated.
Give us an overview of your project.
I’m exploring how women communicate their STEM identity on Instagram. There’s a gender gap in the field—especially in engineering and computer science—but studies show that relevant and relatable role models can change the status quo. For many years, we could see these women of influence only through television series, movies, and newspapers. Now social media provides an unprecedented chance not only to observe, but also to interact directly with leading figures in STEM. Social media allows users, in this case women in STEM, to be the narrators of their own stories. So, what we see is an unmediated and more realistic image of who they are and their careers.
Did you encounter anything surprising in the process?
In the data collection phase, doing interviews proved to be more challenging than I expected, though I was amazed by the variety of viewpoints and the different themes that emerged. I admire my participants for being so open about sharing their journeys, including their vulnerabilities and challenges. Listening to them as insiders talking about their STEM careers and perspectives on their social media presence has been a completely new experience for me.
Who do you hope will benefit from your work?
My research can benefit educators and policymakers who are looking for ways to promote STEM education among girls and women. I hope my work can also encourage the women in STEM who are already using social media to keep sharing their journeys and motivate others to be the storytellers of their own realities.
You were awarded a scholarship from Global Affairs Canada. Tell us about this honour.
The Flight PS752 Commemorative Scholarship pays tribute to the memory of the 176 victims of the 2020 Ukraine International Airlines Flight disaster. I’m humbled to be part of the first group of students to receive this scholarship. Although I didn’t know any of the victims, receiving this scholarship has been very meaningful to me on a personal level. The majority of PS752 passengers were traveling from Iran to Canada via Ukraine and many of them were affiliated with Canadian universities just like me. I was in the first year of my PhD when this tragedy happened and after that all I could think was “It could have been me.” At the same time, it was not me because I’m here doing a PhD while many of those students on the flight never got to share their achievements or their passion for their projects. I see this scholarship as a great opportunity for my academic career and as a huge responsibility to seek every occasion to raise awareness about those who lost their lives and to honour their legacies. Among those, I would like to pay respect to cherished members of the uOttawa community: Mehraban Badiei Ardestani, Saeed Kadkhodazadeh Kashani, and Alma Oladi.
About Golshan Mahjoub
Golshan Mahjoub is a PhD candidate in the Faculty of Education with a research focus on women and STEM education, social media, and identity. She previously earned BA in English language and literature, and an MA in teaching English as a second or foreign language. She works as a Workplace Language Training Facilitator for newcomers to Canada.
