Shahla Haeri

Associate Professor of Women’s Studies and Anthropology, College of Arts & Sciences

Dr. Shahla Haeri 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, and Law of Desire: Temporary Marriage, Mut’a, in Iran. She was involved in the University of Chicago’s multi-year program on global fundamentalism, Fundamentalism Project, which was funded by a John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur grant, and contributed an article to the second volume, “Obedience versus Autonomy: Women & Fundamentalism in Iran & Pakistan.”

Dr. Haeri was also also the director of the Women’s Studies Program from 2001-2010. She has been awarded several grants and postdoctoral fellowships, including one Women’s Studies in Religion at 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.