The Women's Rights Movement in Iran: Mutiny, Appeasement, and Repression from 1900 to Khomeini [Hardcover]

Eliz Sanasarian (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 15, 1982 | ISBN-10: 0275908941 | ISBN-13: 978-0275908942

A definitive survey of the Iranian women's movement from its origins in the Pre-Pahlavi period to its status under Khomeini.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 172 pages
• Publisher: Praeger Publishers (November 15, 1982)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0275908941
• ISBN-13: 978-0275908942
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,930,749 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A valuable history, June 10, 2009

By 

Matthew Smith "Roger Mexico" (TN USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The women's rights movement in Iran: Mutiny, appeasement, and repression from 1900 to Khomeini (Hardcover)

I think this author should be apllauded for writing what had to be a very difficult book due to the constraints of limited and disparate research sources. Iran is such a large country, and the lack of well organized archives must have been very limiting for this book, but the author manages to put together a very fine and enlightening work nonetheless.

I think one of the most important points to take away from this book is the fact that societies are never static even though at times they can very much look that way. Societies are always in flux whether that means progress at times and regression at other times, the society is still moving. Iranian society is certainly no different, and what this book shows readers is that Iran is a nation that exemplifies this rule. Throughout the 20th century there have been movements inside Iran that have pursued women's rights against some long odds.

One of the major problems the women's rights movement in Iran has faced has been is the patriarchal culture that prevailed, and the lack of communication between groups and individuals who were pursuing this cause. This did two things in the early parts of the last century. For one it meant that the differing groups and people were not able to combine their efforts effectively. This meant that no single issue was given enough support. Many times these groups would have a limited focus on a single issue, but they would not have the numerical support to push through the cause. The second problem this created was that it made these organizations easier to oppose and eventually snuff them out completely at times. While these organizations would communicate at times and would support each other in moments of need, they never were able to achieve the massive grassroots movement that needs strong organizers. The problem too often was not leaders or potential adherents, but was instead those middle management organizers to do the grunt work bringing the two sides together. These early attempts were not total failures by any means. They created the ground work that every movement must have for later success.

The author does a great job explaining how these movements have been co-opted by differing sides at different times. The Shahs would bring these organizations under governmental control in order to muster the political potential of women, while at the same time not pushing for real changes, but more of cosmetic changes that would appeal to Western audiences and make them appear more "modern". The Islamists did the same thing as they pushed closer and closer to the revolution. They made sure to appeal to women and keep more of their misogynistic beliefs under wraps or sufficiently vague as to not arouse suspicion so as to maintain the support of the majority of women.

The book has its problems as well. The fact that the book was published in 82 at a time when the Islamic revolution was very new is one major problem. Any revolutionary period is a tumultuous time. You add to this an invasion by another state and a protracted war, and any analysis this soon into a regime will be very difficult. This makes the chapters devoted to the revolutionary period a little bit dated. It doesn't mean the author's analysis should be rejected, but that other works that have the benefit of distance from the actual events may have better perspective.

Another problem is the author doesn't attempt to hide his disdain for the revolutionary government that came out of 79. I was impressed throughout the book with the author's objective analysis up to this point, but once this point was reached I felt the author delved a little too much into the subjective. I really did not like seeing the author using emotive punctuation in those chapters. If the work is an opinion piece that is one thing, but in an objective book such as this one is supposed to be I found this to leave a bad taste in my mouth.

This book is a very good history of women's rights movement in Iran. Despite some problems, this book does a good job of giving the reader the history of this movement along with some sound analysis. If you are interested in Iran then this is an important book whether or not you are directly interested in the feminist movement or if you are simply wanting to attain a better understanding of Iran as whole. It is a good history that will provide valuable insights into Iran.