Iranian Romance in the Digital Age: From Arranged Marriage to White Marriage

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Following the 1979 Islamic Revolution, there was a dramatic reversal of womens 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 countrys 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.

Reviews

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. -- Stephen Kinzer, Author of "All the Shah's Men: An American Coup and the Roots of Middle East Terror."
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. -- Stephanie Coontz, author of Marriage, A History: How Love Conquered Marriage

Author Bio

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.