Women and the Political Process in Twentieth-Century Iran (Cambridge Middle East Studies) (Paperback)

~ (Author) "Part I will concentrate on the discourse of modernity and how it has constructed women..." (more)
Key Phrases: Ayatollah Khomeini, Reza Shah, Zan Ruz (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...[a] highly informative presentation of the role of women in modern Iran [which] should be read by all interested in these fields....strongly recommended as a comprehensive and analytical survey with particular strength in the less-known postrevolutionary period." American Historical Review

"Paidar's approach is novel and rewarding....Her pathbreaking book is sure to reamin the definitive study on women in modern Iran for quite some time. Her methodology will provide a new model for the study of Middle Eastern Islamic countries where women face similar obstacles." Middle East Journal

"...this is a highly insightful book, which is easily accessible to both scholars and the general public, and promises to contribute significantly to debates on the nature of contemporary Iranian society and politics as well as to the field of gender studies in general." Mansour Bonakdarian, American Journal of Sociology

"Parvin Paidar's Women and the Political Process in Twentieth-Century Iran is the best of the dozen books that have appeared on the subject since the Islamic Revolution in 1979. Carefully researched, it contains rich information, especially on women's organizations, leaders, journals, and political activities in the course of the last 10 years. It is also lucidly written, permitting the reader to plow through a mass of details without getting bogged down in minutiae. The work can be used as an encyclopedia on women in modern Iranian politics." Ervand Abrahamian, Contemporary Sociology

"Paidar is to be congratulated for her in-depth, thorough, and multi-layered analysis." Ali Akbar Mahdi, The Historian

"The book's value lies in its detailed discussion of the development of laws and policies pertaining to women under the Islamic Republic." Shiva Balaghi, Middle East Report

"It is truly a great analysis of the Islamic Revolution which one would recommend highly." Sayyed Nadeem Kazmi, Dialogue

"...rightly described as a 'scholarly and thorough' research..." Dialogue

Product Description

In a comprehensive and original analysis, Parvin Paidar considers the role of women in the political process of twentieth-century Iran and demonstrates how political reorganization has redefined their position. Challenging the view expressed by conventional scholarship that emphasizes the marginalization of Muslim women, the author asserts that gender issues are right at the heart of the political process in Iran. The implications of the study bear on the position of women throughout the Middle East and in the developing countries generally.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 424 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press (August 28, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 052159572X
• ISBN-13: 978-0521595728
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,118,321 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is worth reading for any one interested in Iran., June 18, 1999

By A Customer

Dear Professor Paidar your thoughtful points of view in this book is obviously salient.Really it must have taken a long time for you to study so much sources and cite them with honesty. Indeed, I took a lot of advantages from this impartially written book, and I think that no other one can accuse you of favouring any government or political feature in your book. Dear Professor, Since I am writing my own Thesis regarding political participation of women in the process of Iranian Revolution, I see myself completely needy to your invaluable comments about my own ideas in this regard.I am looking forward to hearing from you soon.