The state of women in Islamic societies is the subject of much interest and heated debate, even as representations in the media rely on inadequate information and misperceptions. Becoming Visible in Iran disputes the widespread stereotypes about Muslim women prevalent in the West, providing a vivid account of young women in contemporary Iran. Beginning at home, women are infusing dramatic change by challenging the patriarchal conceptions of their fathers, brothers, uncles and others within the intimate sphere of family and home. Empowered by education, they transport their power from the domestic and the private to the public and political. Through detailed interviews and striking narratives, Mehri Honarbin-Holliday presents the experiences of these young women who wield significant indirect political influence on the seemingly male-dominated politics of Iran. For its direct presentation of women's perspectives as well as its analysis and insight, this book is a vital contribution to our understanding of the lives of Muslim women and the possibilities before them today.

The state of women in Islamic societies is the subject of much interest and heated debate, even as representations in the media rely on inadequate information and misperceptions. This title disputes the widespread stereotypes about Muslim women prevalent in the West, providing an account of young women in contemporary Iran.

PrefaceIntroduction1. Histories, Transitions and Continuities2. Making Meaning, Acquiring Identities3. Presences4. Visions of a Civil Society5. Arrivals and Departures