Women, Power and Politics in 21st Century Iran [Hardcover]

This book examines the women's movement in Iran and its role in contesting gender relations since the 1979 revolution. Looking at examples from politics, law, employment, environment, media and religion and the struggle for democracy, this book demonstrates how material conditions have important social and political consequences for the lives of women in Iran and exposes the need to challenge the dominant theoretical perspectives on gender and Islam. A truly fascinating insider's look at the experiences of Iranian women as academics, political and civil society activists, this book counters the often inaccurate and misleading stereotyping of Iranian women to present a vibrant and diverse picture of these women's lives. A welcome and unique addition to the vibrant and growing literature on women, Islam, development, democracy and feminisms.Contents: Glossary; Introduction, Elaheh Rostami-Povey; The women's movement in its historical context, Elaheh Rostami-Povey; The boom in women's education, Khadijeh Aryan; Autonomous minds and bodies in theory and practice: women constructing cultural identities and becoming visible through art, Mehri Honarbin-Holliday; Women and employment, Zahra Nejadbahram; Women, gender roles, media and journalism, Lily Farhadpour; Women working as judges and making judicial decisions, Jamileh Kadivar; Women and executive power, Jamileh Kadivar; Women in the Parliament, Elaheh Koolaee; Women and the environment: a politico-environmental experience, Massoumeh Ebtekar; The Iranian women's movement in its regional and international context, Tara Povey; Conclusion: women's movements and democracy movements in Iran, Tara Povey; Index.Tara Povey is at the Department of Arabic and Islamic Studies at the University of Sydney, Australia and Elaheh Rostami-Povey is at the London Middle East Institute, Centre for Iranian Studies, School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, UK