by Zhinia Noorian.
I was working on my PhD dissertation on the Persian female poet Parvin E’tesami, when Brian Griffith asked me to help him with his book project on the history of Iran’s women. Brian is an independent thinker and historian who is interested in women and their roles in shaping different cultures. The topic was so close to my heart that I did not need to think twice. I eagerly agreed to join him on the journey. Here is an excerpt from the frontmatter of our collaboration, Mother Persia: Women in Iranian History:
“As an Iranian woman in the West, I see and share a lot of concern about the fate of my country’s women. But I’m also disturbed at how commonly the Western people I know view female Iranians as either helpless victims or brainwashed enemies—even if they personally know vibrant, successful, multicultural Persian women. In both Iran and the West it’s still widely assumed that males have always been the authors of Iranian culture, business, law, religion, art, education, literature, agriculture, science, architecture, philosophy, social mores, and the writing of history. But of course Iranian women have always been creative, influential players in all of these fields. They’ve always had their own goals, values, passions, and accomplishments, whatever challenges they’ve faced, and their contributions have enriched the world. As I recall the commonly obscured female half of my heritage, I want to paint a big picture of women’s initiatives in every period of Iranian history. Of course many excellent authors and scholars have been working on that for decades, and their work has helped to dispel traditional bias. But I and my Western male co-author hope to make our own contribution. We want to link the insights and accounts of many Iranian women together, show their significance for the world, and do it through a stream of stories that people of all cultures might enjoy.”
Like any human endeavour, this project has its shortcomings and limitations. Brian and I welcome thoughts, comments and criticism from all the potential readers of the book. We sincerely hope this book is a window to the world of meaning that Iranian women create in their everyday struggles, moments of hope and despair, and their resilient efforts to make a better world.
Mother Persia, by Zhinia Noorian and Brian Griffith, published by Palgrave, September 2024.