Jewels of Allah: The Untold Story of Women in Iran - Hardcover

Ansary, Nina, Ph.D.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0986406406 ISBN 13: 9780986406409

Publisher: Revela Press, 2015

Synopsis

International Book Award in "Women’s Issues"

Eric Hoffer Award for "Best Culture Book"

Eric Hoffer Award for "Best Book Cover"

Eric Hoffer Award for "Best Debut Author"

Indie Book Award for "Historical Nonfiction"

Indie Book Award for "Women’s Issues"

ForeWord INDIEFAB Award for "Women's Studies"

Best Book Award for "Women's Issues"

The popular narrative about women's lives in Iran over the last forty years goes something like this:

"During the Pahlavi Monarchy, women were on an upward trajectory. In a nation on the cusp of modernity, women actively participated. They were given the right to vote and free to be in public without veils. They wore miniskirts on university campuses. Then came the Islamic Revolution in 1979, with Ayatollah Khomeini at the helm. The burgeoning freedoms for women were extinguished. The veil was required and institutions were segregated by gender. The Islamic Republic had thus achieved its goal of resurrecting the image of the traditional Muslim woman."

The problem with popular narratives is that, despite their convenient half-truths, the real story is more complicated, unexpected, and less tidy.

Inspired by author Nina Ansary's scholarly journey, Jewels of Allah is a provocative roller coaster ride that shatters the stereotypical assumptions and the often misunderstood story of women in Iran today. Highlighting many courageous female leaders and advocates throughout Iran's history, the book illuminates the unanticipated consequences of the Islamic Revolution and the unexpected twists and turns leading to a full-blown feminist movement within a post-revolutionary patriarchal society.

Jewels of Allah is dedicated to every individual oppressed by discriminatory ideology. 100% of all proceeds from the sale of the book will go to charitable organizations and institutions, with the primary recipient being the OMID Foundation, a 501(c)(3) registered organization that has been empowering disadvantaged young women in Iran for over 10 years. For more information on the OMID Foundation, please visit the omidfoundation.com.

About this title

About the Author:

Born in Tehran, Iran, Nina Ansary left her country of birth at the onset of the 1979 Islamic Revolution and has not returned since.

Growing up in New York City, she received her B.A. in Sociology from Barnard College and her M.A. in Middle Eastern Studies from Columbia University. In 2013, Nina received her PhD in History from Columbia University.

In 1996, Ansary moved to Los Angeles, and following her family's long and distinguished record, began to pursue her passion for humanitarian causes. As an avid philanthropist, she serves on the Middle East Institute Advisory Board at Columbia University, on Columbia University's Global Leadership Council, the Board of Trustees of the IAWF (Iranian American Women's Foundation), and the Advisory Board of the Pacific Youth Foundation.

Nina Ansary is an elected member of the Everychild Foundation and the Pacific Council on International Policy, and a member of the American Association of University Women (AAUW), the National Organization for Women (NOW), and the U.S. National Committee for U.N. Women (USNC) organizations dedicated to public policy and supporting education, charitable and gender-related causes.

Since establishing a social media presence in March 2014, Nina Ansary's work has found support in a rapidly growing fan base of over 200,000 journalists, feminists, politicians, scholars, filmmakers, women and men of all ages, from diverse religions and backgrounds, who have joined her Facebook and Twitter platform to share, discuss, and promote the accomplishments of Iranian women. She is a regular contributor to the Daily Beast, the Huffington Post and Women s eNews, an award-winning news website which recently honored her as one of the 21 Leaders of the 21st Century. She is one of the Top Influencers on Iran on Twitter.

Review:

“An easy and enjoyable read, Jewels of Allah is a valuable primer for understanding the complicated and oft-misconstrued history of Iran’s women.” – Holly Dagres, Middle East Affairs Analyst & Editor for Cairo News

"This subtle, intelligent book offers compelling insight into the role of women in Iran. [Ansary] brings to life women from Iran’s past, who have held powerful positions in the military, judicial situation and as businesswomen." ––Katharine Quarmby, writer/journalist, BBC/The Guardian

A well-documented and persuasively written examination of the change in Iranian women s status under the country s secular and religious governments...maintains an engaging tone that makes it easy for casual readers to follow the arguments. - Kirkus Reviews

"Knowing our history is knowing ourselves. Nina Ansary expertly reveals largely untold stories of the multifaceted women of Iran and their perseverance to overcome considerable obstacles." - Alisa Miller, CEO, Public Radio International (PRI)

I am a big fan of women speaking out, telling their stories, using their voices - and author Nina Ansary has used hers in an astonishing, important way. Her Jewels of Allah is brave, authentic and riveting. What a compelling example of why women NEED to tell their stories. Read this. -- Kathy Najimy, actress/activist

This must be included within the Essential Reading lists of all schools- it is a vital historical account, a necessary and refreshed analysis particularly for our 21st Century culture of fear climate. - Marcella Karamat, Curator/ Freelance Writer, The Hollywood Reporter

Nina Ansary s book is a must-read for anyone hoping for a fuller understanding of the role of women and the women s rights movement in Iran. It is a much needed antidote to Western misconceptions. - San Francisco Book Review

"The women of Iran have no greater champion than Nina Ansary, nor does anyone equal her in explaining the seemingly paradoxical expansion of women's education since the Iranian Revolution." -- Richard W. Bulliet, Professor of History, Columbia University

"This is essential reading on Iran, and feminism, human rights, and social movements. The book turns itself into a archive of all the relevant figures, publications, and eras related to the history of women in Iran, and as a researcher and writer, I know I will refer back to it in the future." - Mahsa Alimardani, internet researcher and Iran editor, Global Voices.com

This is a remarkable book. Nina Ansary explodes some of the myths and prejudices held about Iranian women across the centuries. This volume is an invaluable addition to the existing literature on the subject and a must read for all those who are interested in understanding Islam and feminisms and in the celebration of differences and diversities within the feminist movements. - Baroness Afshar of Heslington, Professor, Academy of Social Sciences, University of York

"You can wrap them up in cloths not of their choosing but their powerful spirit still shines through. The Iranian women have always found a way to express themselves, make their presence felt and impact the society. This all comes through Dr. Ansary s book which expertly highlights the challenges and the opportunities facing Iranian women during the secular Pahlavi dynasty and during the various presidencies of the current theocracy." --Dr. Firouz Naderi, Director for Solar System Exploration at NASA"s JPL

“A highly intelligent presentation...offering an informed view of the women’s movement within Iran, Jewels of Allah challenges assumptions and offers cautious optimism.” ––IndieReader Review

"The most accurate and appealing book that I have read about the women's rights movement in contemporary Iran." -- Mehrangiz Kar, Prominent Iranian attorney and celebrated women's rights activist

About this edition

• Publisher: Revela Press
• Publication date: 2015
• ISBN 10: 0986406406
• ISBN 13: 9780986406409
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 328