Iranian Romance in the Digital Age - (Sex, Family and Culture in the Middle East) by Janet Afary & Jesilyn Faust (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Following the 1979 Islamic Revolution, there was a dramatic reversal of women's
rights, and the state revived many premodern social conventions through
modern means and institutions. Customs such as the enforced veiling of women,
easy divorce for men, child marriage, and polygamy were robustly reintroduced
and those who did not conform to societal strictures were severely punished. At
the same time, new social and economic programs benefited the urban and rural
poor, especially women, which had a direct impact on gender relations and the
institution of marriage. Edited by Janet Afary and Jesilyn Faust, this interdisciplinary
volume responds to the growing interest and need for literature on gender, marriage
and family relations in the Islamic context. The book examines how the institution
of marriage transformed in Iran, paying close attention to the country's culture
and politics. Part One examines changes in urban marriages to new forms of
cohabitation. In Part Two contributors, such as Soraya Tremayne, explore the way
technology and social media has impacted and altered the institution of family.
Part Three turns its eye to look at marital changes in the rural and tribal sectors
of society through the works of anthropologists including Erika Friedl and Mary
Hegland. Based on the work of both new and established scholars, the book
provides an up-to-date study of an important and intensely politicized subject

Review Quotes

A fascinating set of studies exploring how Iranian woman negotiate changing expectations of romance and marriage amidst the complex and often contradictory effects of urbanization, modernization, the spread of social media, and the impact of the Islamic Revolution.

Iranian women have often been portrayed as either heroic pioneers or faceless victims. This insightful study pushes beyond those stereotypes to provide moving and authoritative accounts of what life has been and is like for women in Iran. From arranged marriages and virginity tests to the modern world of online dating and biracial children, it adds fascinating depth to our understanding of one of the world's most misunderstood countries.

About the Author

Janet Afary is Mellichamp Chair in Global Religion and Modernity at the University of California, Santa Barbara, USA. She received her PhD in History and Near Eastern Studies at the University of Michigan.

Jesilyn M. Faust is a PhD candidate at the University of California, Santa Barbara, USA.