Book Reviews 113

Voices from Iran: The Changing Lives
of Iranian Women

Mahnaz Kousha
Syracuse, NY: Syracuse University Press, 2002. 244 pages.

Voices from Iran is authored by Mahnaz Kousha, an Iranian college profes-
sor who lectures on issues relating to women in the Middle East at Macalester
College in Minnesota. The 10-chapter work provides a qualitative study, fea-
turing 15 Iranian women, that addresses the position of women in Iran.
Participants ranged in age from from 38 to 55 and lived in the capital city of
Tehran from 1995 to 1997. These women came from low- to high-income
families, had educational backgrounds that range from high school diplomas
to college/university degrees, and possessed employment experience in Iran. 

Even though the work can be considered a valuable piece in that it serves
as a medium through which the voices of Iranian women can be heard, it does
not necessarily reflect the experiences of all women due to the limitation of
the research itself (region, language, religion). In addition, some of Kousha’s
conclusions are far reaching and can be rendered debatable. For instance, the
issue of why educated mothers still do not treat their daughters fairly and
seem unable to help them question and resist their social status is not
addressed. The author also fails to provide an in-depth analysis regarding the
impact of family class and culture in shaping the subjectivities of their daugh-
ters. As well, the social and cultural impact of the Islamic revolution on
women’s rights in Iran is not discussed. Moreover, a closing summary or
assessment is not made at the end of the work. 

The book’s first three chapters include an introduction, a methodology
chapter, and an introduction to the research participants. The analysis of the
data begins from chapters 4 and 5, where the different relationships
between mothers and daughters are discussed. Some of the participants’
experiences involve mothers who openly shared their problems and con-
cerns with them such as the isolation and powerlessness that they have with
their husbands or mothers-in-law. Others complained that their mothers dis-
criminated against them while giving their brothers preferential treatment.
Of interest is the fact that the author does not explore the underlying fac-
tors that may have contributed to this problematic behavior such as parental
education, socioeconomic status, local culture, and religious issues. 

In chapter 6, Kousha analyzes the relationship between fathers and
daughters. The father is seen as the first man in his daughter’s life, provid-



ing both economic and emotional support (p. 91). According to the author,
fathers have a strong role in disciplining and regulating their daughter’s
activities. However, she argues that this patriarchal control became more
flexible during Iran’s social revolution. She contends that the father–
daughter relationship is a model for the relationship between these women
and their future husbands. 

While some women reported that their fathers were overall caring and
understanding toward them, others were rigid and restrictive, especially in
relation to their career, education or choice of husband (p. 111). At the same
time, however, most of the participants noted that their fathers were igno-
rant of their needs and interests and could not guide them when it came to
choosing compatible life partners.

The plight of Iranian girls is greatly hindered not only by their parents’
inability to communicate effectively, but also due to the fact that they are
part of a society that does not allow young women to interact freely with
young men. It is, therefore, understandable that in chapter 7, where the rea-
sons for marriage are addressed, none of the participants claim to have been
emotionally motivated. Instead, these women cite family pressure, the
desire to have an independent life or to escape family oppression, and
curiosity as the main reasons for choosing to get married.

In the following chapters, the author describes some of the primary rea-
sons women gave for seeking employment, such as the desire for financial
independence, the need to escape domestic responsibilities, and simply to
have fun. However, some women reported having to resign from their jobs
to take care of children and their elderly parents or in-laws. As a result,
Kousha concludes that Iranian women tend to sacrifice themselves to
ensure the comfort of others.

In addition, the participants were asked whether or not they were happy
being women and, if given the opportunity, they would choose to be men.
Some stated that they would be happy being women and living in Iran if
human rights and gender equality were in place. In chapter 10, the partici-
pants compared their situations before and after the 1979 Iranian revolution.
A few of them claimed that they had had the chance to participate in socio-
cultural activities both before and after the revolution. However, after the rev-
olution they had more of an opportunity to consider their own personal needs,
desires, and values. Also, the opportunity to pursue a higher education and
job opportunities were made more readily available to them. 

After the revolution and the establishment of Islamic law as the law of
the land, certain changes, such as wearing the hijab, were enforced in Iran.

114 The American Journal of Islamic Social Sciences 22:1



Book Reviews 115

Although, Qur’an 2:256 states that everyone is free to choose his/her own
religion, women have had no choice but to adhere to the new theocratic gov-
ernment’s rules. Beyond the superficial changes, inequality between men
and women persist in every regard. No fundamental changes have been
made regarding furthering the rights of women in divorce and child custody.
Moreover, different rules for men and women regarding adultery and
polygamy still exist. 

Based upon Kousha’s study, one can conclude that the issues relating
to women in Iran over the past few decades are very inter-related and rather
complex. Also, the fact that the sociopolitical issues in Iran have been in a
constant state of change suggest that the author’s work is a work-in-
progress. The opinions and attitudes of the women interviewed may have
also changed since then. Given this, it would be most interesting to conduct
a similar interview with them to see where they are now and where they
would like to be in the future.

The book’s contribution is that it represents the voices of Iranian
women speaking to their own experiences. However, the analysis could
have been furthered by a deeper sociocultural and psychological examina-
tion of the multiple social, religious, and political factors shaping their
lives. Still, this book can be recommended for students in sociology and
women’s studies who are interested in empirical research highlighting the
lived experiences of Iranian women in contemporary Iran.

Zahra Hojati
Ed.D. Candidate, Higher Education/Women’s Study Program 

Theory and Policy Department, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education
University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada