Director: Shahla Haeri
Shahla Haeri is the director of Women’s Studies Program and an Associate Professor of cultural Anthropology in the Department of Anthropology at Boston University. She has conducted research in Iran, Pakistan, and India, and has written extensively on religion, law and gender dynamics in the Muslim world. She is the author of No Shame for the Sun: Lives of Professional Pakistani Women (Syracuse University Press in the US, and Oxford University Press in Pakistan, 2004), and Law of Desire: Temporary Marriage, Mut’a, in Iran (1989, 1993). She was involved in the University of Chicago’s multi-year program on global fundamentalism, Fundamentalism Project, which was funded by a John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur grant, and contributed an article to the second volume: “Obedience Versus Autonomy: Women and Fundamentalism in Iran and Pakistan” (1993).
She has been awarded several postdoctoral fellowships, including one at the Women’s Studies in Religion Program, Harvard Divinity School (2005-2006), Fulbright (1999-2000, 2002-2003), St. Anthony’s College, Oxford University (1996), Social Science Research Council (1987-88), Pembroke Center for Teaching and Research on Women, Brown University (1986-87), and the Center for Middle Eastern Studies, Harvard University (1985-86).
Dr. Haeri made a short video documentary (46 min.) entitled, Mrs. President: Women and Political Leadership in Iran, focusing on six women presidential contenders in Iran in 2001. This documentary is distributed in the United States and Canada by the Films for the Humanities and Sciences (www.films.com, 2002).
Education
| Ph.D. | 1985 | University of California at Los Angeles, Cultural Anthropology |
| C.A.S. | 1977 | Harvard University, Graduate School of Education. Human Development Focus: Family and social change in cross-cultural perspective |
| M.A. | 1975 | Northeastern University. Cultural Anthropology |
Academic Appointments
| 2006-2007 | Research Fellow & Visiting Associate Professor (ColoradoScholar), Women’s Studies.
In Religion Program, Harvard Divinity School, Harvard University |
| 2005- | Associate Professor, Boston University, Department of Anthropology |
| 2001- | Director of Women's Studies, Boston University |
| 1993-2004 | Assistant Professor, Boston University, Department of Anthropology |
| 1997-1998 | Director of Women’s Studies, Boston University |
| 1997-1998 | Director of Women’s Studies, Boston University |
| 1990-1991 | Assistant Professor, New York University, Department of Anthropology |
| 1988 | Lecturer, University of Massachusetts at Boston (Fall Semester) |
Professional Activities
| 7-8/2006 | UNDP, UNESCO, Kabul University & Ministry of Women’s Affair in Afghanistan. Conducted a feasibility study to establish a Gender Studies Institute at Kabul University |
| 3-7/1989 | United Nations High Commission for Refugees, Consultant, prepared an ethnographic report on Iranian Baluch refugees in Pakistan |
Grants, Fellowships and Awards
| 2008-09 | The Jeffrey Henderson Senior Research Fellowships in the Humanities, The Humanities Foundation, Boston University |
| 2005-06 | Research Fellowship, Women’s Studies in Religion Program, Harvard Divinity School |
| 2002-03 | Fulbright Postdoctoral Grant for Uzbekistan (Unable to use) |
| 2001-02 | Fulbright Postdoctoral Grant for Pakistan (Postponed due to 9/11) |
| 1999-00 | Fulbright Postdoctoral Grant for Pakistan (not used) |
| 1997-98 | American Institute of Pakistan Studies, postdoctoral grant for research in Pakistan, Two months |
| 1996 | Iranian Senior Fellowship, Oxford University, St. Antony's College, Hilary Term |
| 1994 | Humanities Foundation Grant, Boston University (A joint project with Dr. Robert Hefner) |
| 1993 | Eleanor B. Leacock Award, Second Prize, Honorable Mention for article on "Obedience Versus, Autonomy: Women and Fundamentalism in Iran and Pakistan" |
| 1991-92 | American Institute of Pakistan Studies, Postdoctoral grant |
| 1990 | The Fundamentalism Project, One month grant for fieldwork in Pakistan |
| 1989-90 | Postdoctoral Fellow, Institute of Ismaili Studies (half a semester) |
| 1986-87 | Postdoctoral Fellow, Pembroke Center for Teaching and Research on Women, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island |
| 1989 | Berkeley Urdu Language Program in Pakistan, January - June |
| 1985-86 | Postdoctoral Research Fellowship, Center for Middle Eastern Studies, Harvard University |
| 1987-88 | Social Science Research Council, Postdoctoral grant |
| 1982 | Social Science Research Council (write up grant) |
| 1981-82 | Social Science Research Council, Dissertation grant |
| 1978-79 | University of California at Los Angeles, Department of Anthropology, Summer grant |
| 1975-76 | Harvard University, scholarship for graduate work |
Field Work
| 7-8/2006 | Conducted fieldwork at Kabul University for establishing Gender Studies Institute, and interviewed and video-taped university students regarding the topic, Kabul, Afghanistan |
| 6-8/2005 | Conducted ethnographic fieldwork and video-taped presidential election of summer 2005 |
| 6-8/2004 | Interviewed and video-taped several woman MPs from the 6th parliament (2000-04) regarding issues of women’s political participation and political leadership, Tehran, Iran. |
| 5-7/2001 | Interviewed and videotaped six women presidential candidates and solicited commentaries
from two well-known women editors and journalist for a video documentary on Presidential
election, Tehran, Iran. |
| 7-8/2000 | Collected data on temporary marriage in Tehran for an updated version of my book,
Law of Desire: Temporary Marriage in Shi’i Iran |
| 6/1998 | Interviewed educated, urban professional middle class Pakistani women, Karachi, 1-14. |
| 12/1997- 1/1998 |
Follow up research in Pakistan, collecting life history of professional Pakistani women. |
| 1996 | Research on judiciary changes and personal law, with a focus on divorce, Tehran, Iran, April - May |
| 1994 | Research on women and feminist non-governmental organizations, Tehran, Iran, Summer |
| 1991-1993 | Research on the tension between law, religion and personal desires among urban professional Pakistani women. |
| 1990 | Research on the impact of "fundamentalism" on family in Pakistan, interviewing members of the Jamaat Islami Party, and other prominent political leaders. March 6 - April 4 |
| 1989 | Ethnographic research on the Iranian Baluch refugees in Karachi, Pakistan. March, May- July |
| 1989-1990 | Archival research on the concept of devotion to the Imam among the Shi'is in the Indo- Pakistan subcontinent, September - February |
| 1987-1988 | Archival Research in major libraries in Karachi and Lahore in Pakistan, and Aligarh, Lucknow, and Patna in India. Focused on Sunni Muslim jurists' interpretations of property, marriage contracts,
custody of children, and reciprocal marital obligations |
| 1981-1982 | Doctoral research on the contract of temporary marriage. Visited cities of Qom, Mashhad,
Kashan and Teheran, and interviewed religious leaders of various ranks, men and women who hadcontracted temporary marriage |
| 1978 | Preliminary research in Qom on the institution of temporary marriage, Summer |
Editorial and Advisory Boards
| 2007- | Board Member, Women in Sciences and Engineering (WISE), Boston University |
| 2006- | Board of Director, Graduate Consortium of Women’s Studies |
| 2006- | Online Editor of Encyclopedia of Women & Islamic Cultures |
| 2006- | Advisor, Nobel Women’s Initiative: United for Peace and Justice |
| 2002- | Associate Editor, Comparative Studies of South Asia, Africa, and the Middle East |
| 2002- | Board Member, Association for the Study of Persianate Societies |
| 1999- | Board Member, The Latifeh Yarshater Memorial Book Award |
| 1997-1998 | Nominating Committee, Middle Eastern Studies Association |
| 1996-2000 | Institute for Women's Studies (International Faculty), Lahore, Pakistan |
| 1996- | Human Rights Education Workshop, Sisterhood is Global (Advisory Council) |
| 1993-1996 | Digest of Middle East Studies (International Advisory Board) |
| 1994-1997 | Women's Study's Program (Advisory Board), Boston University |
| 1994 | Malcolm H. Kerr Dissertation Award Committee in the Social Sciences (Selection Committee), Middle Eastern Studies Association |
| 1993-2001 | Critique: Journal of Critical Studies of Iran and the Middle East (Advisory Board) |
| 1993-94 | Committee for the Study of Women & Gender in the Middle East & Islamic Societies, Harvard University (Steering Committee) |
| 1991- | Women's Center at Foundation for Iranian Studies, Bethesda, MD (Advisor) |
| 1990- | New England Council for the Middle East Studies |
| 1990-2000 | Nimeye Digar, A Persian language feminist quarterly, Editorial Board |
| 1988-1989 | Society for Iranian Studies, Council Member |
| 1986- | Faculty Associate. Center for Middle Eastern Studies, Harvard University |
| 1985-90 | International Women’s Anthropology Conference (IWAC), Inc. (Member-at-Large) |
Professional Affiliations
American Anthropological AssociationAssociation for Asian Studies
Association of Political and Legal Anthropology
American Institute of Pakistan Studies
Association for Middle East Women's Studies
Applied Socioeconomic Research (ASR), Pakistan
Foundation for Iranian Studies
Middle Eastern Studies Association
Society for Iranian Studies
Language Skills
Fluent in English and Persian; Conversant with Urdu; Reading knowledge of ArabicConferences and Presentations (partial list)
| 2008 | “Scenes from Women’s Lives in Iran,” Power point presentation, International Women’s Day events, Women’s and Gender Studies Program, Suffolk University, Boston, March 7 |
| 2008 | “Crafting Local Democracy: Women, Religion & Politics in Iran,” Faculty Forum Chats, Boston University, February 14 |
| 2008 | “Benazir Bhutto: Women in Power & Paradox of Patrilineay,” Paper presented at panel discussion
“Pakistan Crisis,” Fares Center for Eastern Mediterranean Studies. Tufts University, January 30 |
| 2008 | “Religion, Politics, and Women in Iran: Edging Toward Democracy?” Women in the Curriculum/ Women’s Studies, University of Maine, Bangor |
| 2008 | “Mrs. President: Women & Political Leadership in Iran,” Talk, Screening, & Discussion, School of Policy and International Affairs, University of Maine, Bangor |
| 2007 | Paper presented at International conference on “Gender Justice and the Woman
Question in the Middle East,” University of Pennsylvania, October 23-27 |
| 2007 | Participated and Facilitated Working Group at "Women's Interfaith Initiatives After 9/11,"
Pluralism Project, Radcliffe Institute, Harvard University, September 28-29. |
| 2007 | “Religion, Women, and Political Agency in Iran,” Paper presented at the 50th Anniversary of the Middle East Center, St Antony’s College, Oxford University, UK, 29-30 June – 1 July |
| 2007 | Moderator, organizer and presenter at The Nobel Women’s Initiative’s First International Conference: Women Redefining Peace in The Middle East & Beyond. May 28-30 |
| 2007 | “Religion, Women, and Political Agency in Iran,” Paper presented at the conference on Women in the Middle East: Contemporary Assessment. Rice University, Texas
22 May |
| 2007 | “Religion, Women and Political Agency in Iran,” Talk and Power Point presentation at the Annual Meeting of Human Resources Policy Institute, School of Management, Boston University, May 17 |
| 2007 | “Women and Political Leadership in Iran,” Talk given at College of Holy Cross, Worcester, MA
April 12, 2007 |
| 2007 | “Contradictions of Women’s Empowerment in Pakistan,” Talk given at the conference, Contested Spaces, Competing Narratives: Toward Human Rights and Democracy in Pakistan, Harvard University. April 6-7 |
| 2007 | “Religion, Politics and Women in Iran: Edging Toward Democracy?” Talk given at Middlebury College, VT, April 3 |
| 2007 | “Muslim Women Finding their Voices,” Talk given at African-American Studies, Boston University
February 20 |
| 2007 | Moderated panel on Institutions, power, and democratic Practices at the conference on Past and Future of Reform in Iran, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, Feb 5-7 |
| 2006 | Discussant and Moderator for Pakistan Roundtable, “Shrinking Spaces: The Struggle for Human Rights & Democracy in Pakistan,” Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, December 5 |
| 2006 | “Religion, Women, and the State in Iran: Edging Toward Democracy?” Talk and Screening of video documentary, “Mrs. President.” University of Pennsylvania, Middle East Center, November 30 |
| 2006 | “Women and Political Leadership in Iran,” Talk and Screening of video documentary, “Mrs. President.” Lafayette University, Allentown, PA, November 2-3 |
| 2006 | "Pakistani Professional Women," Talk and slide presentation at Nahr-e Tarikh-e Iran (Iran History Publishers). July 8 |
| 2006 | “No Shame for the Sun: Lives of Professional Pakistani Women,” Paper presented at Pak- Millennium Conference, “Celebrating Pakistani Women: Their Lives and Struggle,” April 29 |
| 2006 | "Diversity: What is Higher Education's Obligation to Address Inequality in a Pluralistic World," Paper presented at Symposia in Honor of the Inauguration of Dr. Robert A. Brown, 10th President of Boston University, April 28 |
| 2006 | “Women and Political Leadership in Iran,” Talk and Screening of video documentary, “Mrs. President.” Denver, Colorado. Organized by The Harvard Women’s Studies in Religion Program Colorado Steering Committee, April 20. |
| 2006 | Advisor to Shirin Ebadi, Iranian Nobel laureate for Peace 2003, Preliminary conference to launch Nobel Women’s Initiative, Los Angles, April 9-12 |
| 2006 | “Religion, Politics, and Women in Iran: Edging toward Democracy? Paper presented at Suffolk University
Conference on Women and Islam: Complexities and Diversities,” February 23 |
| 2006 | “Muslim Women?,” Talk given at "Promoting Dialogue between Islam and the West: Perspectives on Religion, Gender and Diplomacy" Holy Cross College, January 30,
2006 |
| 2006 | "Review of ethnographies done on Iranian women outside of Iran," and screening of video documentary "Mrs. President: Women and Political Leadership in Iran." Workshop held at Tehran University, Iran, for the faculty and graduate students and other invited scholars. January 16 |
| 2006 | "Cultural Anthropology: Theory and Method," talk given at Allameh Tabataba'i University, Tehran, Iran. January 9 |
| 2005 | “Muslim Women from Iran and Pakistan,” Talk and power point presentation given at Primary Source. Watertown, MA December 2 |
| 2005 | “Women and Politics in Iran,” Talk given at Roger Williams University, November 11 |
| 2005 | “Religion, Politics, and Women: Edging Toward Democracy?” Paper presented at the Women’s Studies in Religion Program, Harvard Divinity School, October 18 |
| 2005 | “Religion, Politics, and Women: Edging Toward Democracy?” Paper presented at the conference on Iraq-Iran Face the Future, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, September 26 (AM)
Participated in a town-hall open forum on the same topic, September 26 (PM) |
| 2005 | “Women, Law, and Gender Dynamic in the Muslim World.” Talk given at the Salem Award for Human Rights and Justice, Salem, MA, April 4. |
| 2005 | “Fascination with Difference: Democratizing Anthropology, Conducting Fieldwork Among Equals.”
Paper Presented at The Second Annual Social Theory Forum. April 6-7, University of Massachusetts Boston |
| 2005 | “Women, Islam, and Mysticism: Prospects for Spiritualism and Social Change.” Ministry and Multiculturalism: An Interfaith Dialogue: Women of the World 2005, Shaw Center, Boston University, 13 April |
| 2005 | “Women, Religion and Politics in Iran: Edging Toward Democracy?” Paper presented at the Conference on Women of Iraq and Iran: Visionaries for Peace in the 21st Century. Westfield State College, Westfield, MA, April 14-17 |
| 2005 | Moderator, Conference on Muslim Women of the 21st Century. Boston University, April 23 |
| 2005 | Translator and Interpreter for Shirin Ebadi, Noble Peace Prize Winner, 2003. Westfield State College, May 2 |
| 2004 | “Women’s Perspectives from Pakistan and Iran: Searching for Modernity in an Age of Militarization.” Talk given at Woodrow Wilson Center, Washington, D.C. December 9 |
| 2004 | “Lives of Professional Pakistani Women,” talk given at the South Asian Society, Yale University, New Haven, October 28 |
| 2004 | “Legacy of Injustice: Gender Justice, Governance, and Citizenship.” Paper presented at One Day Conference: Priority Goals for Women in the 21st Century. Women and Public Policy Program. At John F. School of Government, Harvard University. May 4. |
| 2004 | “Professional Pakistani Women,” Pakistan Day of Learning, Rockefeller Foundation, New York City, February 24. |
| 2004 | “Gender, Islam, & Power,” talk given at Swarthmore College, February 17. |
| 2003 | “Contested Terrains: Gender Justice and Citizenship in South Asia,” Paper presented at the conference on Gender Justice, Citizenship, and Entitlement, International Development Research Center, Ottawa, Canada, November 13-14. |
| 2003 | “Mrs. President: Women & Political Leadership in Iran,” Talk and Screening of Video Documentary, Asia Society, New York City, November 6 |
| 2003 | “Family and Temporary Marriage in Iran,” Talk given at University of Virginia, Charlottesville, October 26 |
| 2003 | “Women and Political Leadership in Iran,” Paper presented at 4th Annual Conference on Central
Eurasian Studies Society, Harvard University, Cambridge, October 5 |
| 2003 | Moderator and Chair for the panel on Central Asian Women: History and Current Issues, 4th Annual Conference on Central Eurasian Studies Society, Harvard University, Cambridge, October 4 |
| 2003 | “No Shame for the Sun: Lives of Professional Pakistani Women,” Talk and discussion at
University of California at Davis, Department of Anthropology Colloquium Series, May 5 |
| 2003 | “Women & Political Leadership in Iran,” Paper presented at the 2003 Warburg Conference on
Modern Women and Ancient Faiths: The Complex Quest for Equality in Christianity,
Islam and Judaism, Simons College, Boston, MA May 2 |
| 2003 | “Illusion of Association: Tension between Law and Culture in Iran and Pakistan,”
Paper presented at the Fifth Annual Gender & Law Conference: Laws, Institutions and Gender
Equality at World Bank, Washington DC, March 18-19 |
| 2003 | “Workshop on Middle East Youth Culture,” Participant in three panels on the subject,
Watson Institute, Brown University, February 27-28 – March 1 |
| 2003 | “No Shame for the Sun: Lives of Professional Pakistani Women,” Presentation and Book
signing at Barnes and Noble, Kenmore Square, Beacon St., February 20 |
| 2003 | “No Shame for the Sun: Lives of Professional Pakistani Women,” conducted a seminar on
my book with graduate students of Professor Susan Wadley, Syracuse University, February 17 |
| 2003 | “Against the Grain: Making Professional Pakistani Women Visible,” Paper presented at
University of Michigan, Dearborn, February 10 |
| 2003 | Reading of the Quran and Hafez on the story of Creation. In Man, Woman, Serpent: Genesis and Its Afterlife, Boston University, February 3 |
| 2003 | “Status of Women in Islam,” talk given at Helen Day Art Center, Vermont, January 31 |
| 2003 | “No Shame for the Sun: Lives of Professional Pakistani Women,” Presentation, discussion,
and book signing, Woodrow Wilson Center, Washington DC, January 23 |
| 2002 | “Mrs. President,” Discussion on my video documentary and Book, Brown University,
Providence, RI, November 7 |
| 2002 | “Mrs. President,” Discussion of women and politics in Iran, Food for Thought, Boston University,
November 19 |
| 2002 | “American Imagining of Iranians in the United States,” talk given at the Symposium on Iranian
Immigrants in the United States, Iranian Association of Boston, November 16-17. |
| 2002 | “Muslim women and the problematic of veil and veiling,” talk given at Commonwealth School,
Boston, MA, May 9 |
| 2002 | “Political Terror: Women’s Body, Nation’s Honor,” Paper presented at the Symposium on
Terrorism and Mental Health: Clinician and Patient Responses from Patriotism to World
Community, The Twenty-Fifth Annual Erich Lindemann Memorial Lecture, The Massachusetts
School of Professional Psychology, Boston, April 26.
|
| 2002 | Iran: Another Look. Chair of the panel on “Prospects for Political Change in Iran.” The Center for
International Relations at Boston University, April 23 |
| 2002 | “Who Speaks for Islam,” Discussant, Institute for Philosophy and Religion, Boston University,
April 10. |
| 2002 | “Sacred Canopy: Love & Sex Under the Veil.” Paper presented at Johns Hopkins University,
March 30 |
| 2002 | In the Mirror of the Other: Making Professional Pakistani Women Visible,” Paper
presented at the Conference on Afghanistan and Beyond: Women's Activism in Times
of War.” Five College Women’s Studies Research Center, the Weissman Center for
Leadership at Mount Holyoke College, Amherst, MA. March 7-8 |
| 2002 | In the Mirror of the Other: Making Professional Muslim Women Visible." Paper presented at
Department of Psychiatry at the Cambridge Health Alliance. Cambridge Hospital/Harvard
Medical School. January 29 |
| 2001 | “Women & Political Leadership in Iran,” Paper presented at Purdue University, Sears Series. November 12. |
| 2001 | “Women’s Voices for Peace,” organizer & moderator, Boston University. October 4. |
| 2001 | "The 'Unveiling' of Professional Pakistani Women," Paper presented at Tufts University,
Massachusetts, April 25 |
| 2001 | Iran's Presidential Election: What Will It Mean for U.S. Policy. Moderator for Panel on
"Iranian Interest Groups: How Important, how Influential?" National Defense University.
Washington, D.C., April 20 |
| 2001 | "The 'Unveiling' of Professional Pakistani Women," Paper presented at Amherst College. April 18 |
| 2001 | “Sacred Canopy: Love & Sex Under the Veil,” Paper presented at the Conference on “ Women in Iranian Cinema.” University of Virginia at Charlottesville, March 30 – April 2. |
| 2001 | "Subliminal Sex in Iranian Cinema," talk given at Food for Thought, Boston University, March 13 |
| 2001 | "The 'Unveiling' of Professional Pakistani Women," Paper presented at Wilson Center, Washington .
D.C. January 26 |
| 2000 | “Custom or Religion: The ‘Crime’ of Being a Widow.” Paper presented at the Pakistan Millennium Conference, Boston University, Boston, MA, September 30. |
| 2000 | “Challenges of Temporary Marriage and Sexuality in Iran.” Talk given at the Office of Guft-o-gu Magazine (Dialogue On Culture and society), Tehran, Iran. August 8. |
| 2000 | “Fieldwork in Uncommon Place: Temporary Marriage in Iran,” Paper presented at the Society for Iranian
Studies Biannual meeting, Washington DC, May 26 |
| 1999 | “Story of a ‘Bad” Woman: Defiance and Dishonor in Pakistan,” Paper presented at Notre Dame University, South Bend, IN, April 30 |
| 1999 | “Story of a ‘Bad’ Woman: Defiance and Dishonor in Pakistan,” Paper presented at the Conference on Writing Lives, Charlottesville, VA, April 22-24 |
| 1999 | “Violence Against Women in Pakistan,” Talk given at LaTertulia, Humanities Foundation, Boston University, February 24 |
| 1999 | “Who is a ‘Muslim Woman?’ In the Mirror of the Other,” Talk given at Food for Thought, Boston University, February 23 |
| 1998 | “Masquerading Rites of Passage: Fictive Marriage in Iran,” Paper presented at the American Anthropological Association, Philadelphia, PA, December 2-6. |
| 1998 | “Women, Islam and Ecology,” Chair and Discussant, Conference on Islam and Ecology, Harvard University, May 8-11 |
| 1998 | “Women as Agent of Social Change,” Paper presented at the Conference on Economic & Social Development in Pakistan, MIT, March 7 |
| 1997 | “Framing Sexuality in Muslim Societies: Marriage as Contract,” Paper presented at the Workshop on
Marriage Contract in Islam, Islamic Legal Studies Program, Harvard Law School, May 30-31 |
| 1997 | “Identity, Sexuality and Subjectivity,” Paper presented at the Institute of Women's Studies, Lahore,
Pakistan, March 28-31 |
| 1997 | “The Awakening of Women in Iran and Pakistan” (in Persian)Talk given at the Iranian Cultural Society of South Florida, March 8 |
| 1997 | “Religion & Ecology: Forging an Ethic Across Traditions,” Moderator for Panel on Islam, Boston Research
Center for the 21st Century, Cambridge, MA, February 21-22 |
| 1996 | “Divine Asymmetry: Divorce in The Islamic Republic of Iran,” Paper read at the American
Anthropological Associations, San Francisco, CA November 21-24 |
| 1996 | “Aspects of Iranian Women’s Lives,” Chair & Discussant, Annual Conference of Middle Eastern Studies, Providence, RI, November 22 |
| 1996 | “Sexuality, Identity Construction and Religion,” The Park Ridge Center for the Study of Health, Faith,
and Ethics, Chicago, November 8 |
| 1996 | “Women's Leadership in Developing Countries,” Paper presented at Massachusetts Conference on Women:
Bringing Beijing Home, Boston, MA, September 28 |
| 1996 | “On Men, Women, and Communication,” Talk given in Persian at Imam Sadigh University, Tehran Iran,
May 15 |
| 1996 | “Modernity and Islam: Relationship between State and Women in Iran,” Paper presented at Bruno
Kreisky Forum for International Dialogue, Vienna, Austria, March 28 |
| 1996 | “Framing Sexuality in the Context of Modern Islamic Society: Temporary Marriage in Iran,” Paper
Presented at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London, UK. March 7 |
| 1996 | “Modernity & Sexuality: Temporary Marriage in Contemporary Iran,” Paper presented at the Middle
East Center, St. Antony's College (Jointly sponsored by the Center for Cross-Cultural Research on Women),
Oxford University, UK. February 27 |
| 1996 | “Islamic Feminism: The Case of Iran,” Discussant, Middle East Conference, London University
(Birkbeck College), UK, February 10 |
| 1995 | “Negotiating Desire: Temporary Marriage in Contemporary Iran,” Paper presented at Harvard University,
Social Anthropology Seminar Series, Cambridge, MA, December 18 |
| 1995 | “Temporary Marriage (Mut’a) in Contemporary Iran,” Paper presented at Boston University, Food for
Thought Series, Boston, MA, November 21 |
| 1995 | “Gender and the Sacred in Islam,” Paper presented at the Conference on Engendering American Catholic
Studies, Notre Dame University, South Bend, IN, September 29 - October 1 |
| 1995 | “Politics of Dishonor: Rape and Power in Pakistan,” Paper presented at a Symposium onShifting Boundaries
of Gender Categories in South Asia and the Middle East, Charlottesville, VA, March 31 - April 1 |
| 1995 | “Politics of Dishonor: Rape and Power in Pakistan,” Paper presented at Harvard University, Study of Gender
in the Middle East, Cambridge, MA, April 21 |
| 1995 | “Politics of Dishonor: Rape and Power in Pakistan,” Paper presented at Rhodes College, Memphis, TN, February 23 |
| 1994 | “Politics of Dishonor: Rape and Power in Pakistan,” Paper presented at Twenty-Eight Annual Meeting of Middle Eastern Association Studies, Phoenix, AZ, November 19-22 |
| 1994 | “Politics of Dishonor: Rape and Politics in Pakistan,” Paper presented at Religion, Culture, and Women's
Human Rights in the Muslim World, Washington, DC, September 9-10 |
| 1994 | “Reflections on Fieldwork in Iran and Pakistan,” Talk given in Persian at Shahid Behishti University, Tehran,
Iran, July 14 |
| 1994 | “Living Their Lives: Women Engaging Fundamentalism in Iran and Pakistan,” Paper presented at the
Conference onComparative Fundamentalisms, University of California at Los Angeles, April 22-24 |
| 1994 | “Obedience Versus Autonomy: Women and Fundamentalism in Iran and Pakistan,” Paper presented at
University of California at San Diego, CA, April 25 |
| 1994 | “Women and Fundamentalism in Iran and Pakistan,” Paper presented at The Center for Muslim- Christian
Understanding, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, April 13 |
| 1993 | “Islamic Discourse on Sexuality,” Paper presented at the Conference on Life and Politics in the Middle
East, Hamline University, St.Paul, MN February 26-27 |
| 1993 | “Marriage Contracts in Iran,” Talk given at the Sustainable Development Policy Institute, Islamabad,
Pakistan, June |
| 1992 | The Glory & The Power: an International Forum on Fundamentalism, in collaboration with the William
Benton Broadcast Project of the University of Chicago, a two-hour radio special to culminate the program
of the public radio and television series of “The Glory and The Power.” Moderated by John Hockenberry,
Talk of the Nation, National Public Radio, Chicago, June 21 |
| 1991 | “Temporary Marriage in Contemporary Iran,” Paper presented at the United States Educational Foundation,
Asian Study Group, Islamabad, Pakistan, December 10 |
| 1991 | Consultation of Jews, Christians and Muslims, Center for Theological Inquiry, Princeton, NJ, June 27-28 |
| 1991 | “Contested Sexuality: Temporary Marriage in Iran,” Paper presented at Colloquium on Women in Religion
and Society at Annenberg Research Institute, Philadelphia, PA, May 6-7 |
| 1991 | “Negotiating Order: Male-Female Relationship in Public Space in Iran,” Paper presented at theColloquium
on Women and Development at Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, May 3 - 4 |
| 1991 | “Marriage and Sexuality in Iran Today,” Talk given at Colgate University, April 3 |
| 1991 | “Middle Eastern Images of the Gulf War: Personal Reflections,” Paper presented at New York Academy of
Sciences, March 28 |
| 1990 | “Reflections in the Field,” Talk given at the Faculty Seminar, Hagop Kevorkian Center for Near Eastern
Studies, New York University, NY, NY, December 5 |
| 1990 | “Women and Islamic Revolution: A Decade Later,” Paper presented at the Conference on Iran: A Decade
After the Revolution, Montclair State College, Upper Montclair, NJ, October 26 |
| 1989 | “Family and Interpersonal Relationships,” Team Meeting for The Fundamentalism Project, London
UK, August 8-9 |
| 1989 | “Fundamentalism Consolidated: Women's Lives in Iran and Pakistan,” Paper presented at the Conference on Remaking the World: Fundamentalist Impact, University of Chicago, Sponsored by the American
Academy of Arts and Sciences, Chicago, IL, October 30-31 & November 1
|
| 1989 | “The Interpretation of Misfortune in Cross-Cultural Perspective,” Paper presented at Iranian Women’s
Studies: Works in Progress, A Symposium, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, November 11 |
| 1989 | “Divorce: A Male Prerogative in Self-Will,” Paper presented at the Conference on Islamic Family Law:
State, Identity and Minority Rights, School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), U of London, UK,
May 18-19 |
| 1989 | “Global Fundamentalism: A Group Discussion,” Conference on Remaking the World: Fundamentalism Impact, The American Academy of Arts & Sciences, Cambridge, MA, May 7-8 |
| 1988 | “Institute of Temporary Marriage in Iran,” Paper presented at Khudabakhsh Oriental Public Library,
Patna, India, February 16 |
| 1987 | “Poetic Transgression: Feminist Discourse in Contemporary Persian Poetry,” Paper presented at the
Conference on Forugh Farrokhzad (1935-1967) Twenty Years Later, Austin, TX, February 12-15 |
| 1986 | “Ambivalence Toward Women In Islamic Law and Ideology,” Paper presented at the Twentieth Annual
Meeting of the Middle Eastern Studies Association, Boston, MA, November 20-23 |
| 1986 | “Women’s Voices: A Bibliographic Reference in English and Persian,” Paper presented at the Middle East
Librarian Association, Boston, MA, November 20 |
| 1984 | “Power of Ambiguity: Cultural Improvisations on the Theme of Temporary Marriage,” Paper presented at
Symposium on National Cultures and International Communications, Sponsored by Werner-Gren
Foundation for Anthropological Research, Berkeley Springs, WV, June 5-9 |
| 1983 | “Structural Constraints and Practical Considerations: Uses of Mut'a/Sigheh Marriage in Iran,” Paper
presented at the Conference on Family, Law and Change in the Middle East, Sponsored by the
Subcommittee on Law and Social Structure of the Social Science Research Council and the American
Council of Learned Societies Joint Committee on the Near and Middle East, Tuxedo, NY, October 27-29 |
| 1983 | “Women, Religion, and Social Change,” International Working Conference on Women, Religion, and Social
Change, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA June 12-18 |
| 1982 | “Uses of Sigheh Marriage in Iran: Personal, Cultural, and Legal Manipulations,” Paper presented at the
Sixteenth Annual Meeting of the Middle Eastern Studies Association, Philadelphia, PA, November 3-6 |
| 1981 | “Iranian Women: Past and Present,” Paper presented at the Conference on Muslim Women in the Middle
East: Faces of Reality, Hagop Kevorkian Center for Middle Eastern Studies, New York University,
NY, May 16 |
| 1981 | “Legal Status of Women in Developing Countries,” Organized & Chaired, Women & International
Development: Joint Harvard/MIT Group, Center for International Studies, MIT, April 16 |
| 1976 | “Law, Women, and Social Change in Iran,” Paper presented at the Society for Middle Eastern
Studies, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, November 12 |
| 1975 | “Law, Women, and Social Change,” Paper presented at the Eight Annual Convention of the Association of
Arab-American University Graduates, Chicago, IL, October 17-19 |
| 1975 | “Law, Religion and Women in Iran,” Paper presented at the Workshop on the Role and Status of Women
in Contemporary Muslim Countries, Center for the Study of World Religions, Harvard University,
Cambridge, MA, April 19 |
| 1974 | “Legal Status of Women in Iran,” Paper presented at the Eight Annual Meeting of the Middle Eastern
Studies Association, Boston, MA 26-29 |
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