Nina Ansary

Nina Ansary

Nina Ansary in 2016
Born 1966 (age 49–50)
Tehran, Iran
Nationality Iranian, American
Citizenship United States
Education Middle Eastern studies and Political science
Alma mater Barnard College
Columbia University
Occupation Historian, writer
Relatives Hushang Ansary (Father),
Cyrus A. Ansary (Uncle)
Website ninaansary.com

Nina Ansary (Persian: نینا انصاری ‎‎) (born 1966, Tehran, Iran), is an Iranian–American historian and author best known for her work on women's equity in Iran.[1] Ansary's research has notably countered conventional assumptions of the progress of women in Iran while continuing to advocate for full emancipation.[2] In 2015, Women's eNews recognized Ansary as one of "21 leaders of the 21st century."[1]

Early life and education

Ansary was born in Tehran to former Iranian Ambassador to the United States Hushang Ansary and Maryam Panahi Ansary.[3][4] In 1978, months ahead of the Iranian Revolution, Ansary's father moved the family to the United States and she grew up in New York City. Ansary received her Bachelor's degree from Barnard College and both her Master's degree and Doctorate from Columbia University.[5]

Career

In 2013, Ansary's doctoral thesis about the women's movement in Iran produced research that would later inspire her book, The Jewels of Allah.[2][6] Despite Ayatollah Khomeini's views on women, they were some of his biggest supporters and this was a key factor in the collapse of the Pahlavi Monarchy in 1979.[7] Once it came to power, the Islamic republic in Iran did enforce the inferiority of women through policy.[8] Ansary's research challenged assumptions about the lives of women under these policies and accented the documented, if unanticipated, consequences including a growing female literacy rate, lower fertility, and increase of women overall in higher education in Iran.[5][9]

By 2014, Ansary and her research became increasingly prominent in mainstream media as authoritative on women's issues in Iran.[10][11] The Clarion Project featured Ansary and her work.[7] The Daily Beast published Ansary's essays, including analysis of the possibilities of using modern interpretations of the Koran to support increased social freedoms for women as proposed by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.[12] Ansary became a regular commentator: she wrote widely about the rise of women's literacy in Iran and supported the renewed publication of Zanan magazine, Iran's only Persian language magazine for women.[13][14]

In early 2015, Women's eNews named Ansary as one of their 21 leaders of the 21st century for interrupting legacy narratives and bringing clarity to often misunderstood stereotypes.[15] Ansary wrote that she wanted her work to dispel misconceptions and aid women living in Iran who "continue to fight an uphill battle and demonstrate their resilience."[16] Her work grew to encompass the greater issues around gender inequality. She brought attention to the release of Desert Dancer, a biographical film about Iranian dancer Afshin Ghaffarian.[17] Ansary was included in 2015's InspireFest in Dublin, Ireland.[18]

Jewels of Allah

Ansary's book was published in 2015. The book highlights stories of Iranian women and follows the history of women’s liberation in Iran both before and after the 1979 Islamic Revolution.[19] The book received solid reviews; Kirkus Reviews called it "well-documented and persuasively written examination of the change in Iranian women’s status" and New York Times stated its premise is "both gripping and features a clever thought-provoking twist."[19][20]

Philanthropy

Ansary is president of The Ansary Foundation, a non-profit organization that aids in social welfare issues and works to improve international cooperation and understanding.[21] She has helped administer the Ansary Fellows Program at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government, the Ansary Fellowships at Texas A & M University and serves on the Middle East Institute Advisory Board at Columbia University.[22] Ansary is an elected member of the Everychild Foundation and is on the Board of Trustees of the Iranian American Women Foundation.[21] She donated the profits from her book to charities, primarily those that aid disadvantaged girls and women in Iran.[19]

References

  1. 1 2 Loffreda, Daniela (January 29, 2015). "Dr Nina Ansary speaks about the Iranian women's movement". Middle East Eye. Retrieved May 12, 2015.
  2. 1 2 Paschal, Jan (January 2, 2015). "21 Leaders 2015: Seven Who Interrupt Legacy Narratives". Women's E-News. Retrieved May 15, 2015.
  3. ↑ Milani, Abbas (2008). Eminent Persians : the men and women who made modern Iran, 1941–1979 : in two volumes (1st ed.). Syracuse, N.Y.: Syracuse University Press. p. 81. ISBN 9780815609070.
  4. ↑ Bill, James A. (1988). The eagle and the lion : the tragedy of American-Iranian relations. New Haven: Yale University Press. pp. 165–354. ISBN 9780300044126.
  5. 1 2 Paschal, Jan (January 2, 2015). "Dr. Nina Ansary: Los Angeles' Unearther of Unexpected Consequence". Womans eNews (2015 Women's eNews Inc.). Retrieved May 14, 2015.
  6. ↑ Ansary, Nina (June 2015). The Jewels of Allah. Revela Press. ISBN 0986406406.
  7. 1 2 Friedland, Elliot (October 2, 2014). "Road to Equality in Iran Paved with Obstacles". The Clarion Project. Retrieved May 15, 2015.
  8. ↑ Sahrraei, Fariba (September 22, 2012). "Iranian university bans on women causes consternation". BBC News Persian. Retrieved May 15, 2015.
  9. ↑ Staff. "The Jewels of Allah, the Untold Story of Women in Iran". Kirkus Reviews. Kirkus Channels. Retrieved May 15, 2015.
  10. ↑ Thacker, Purvi (April 3, 2015). "Prominent Iranian women weigh in on historic nuclear deal". NYT Live (New York Times). Retrieved May 15, 2015.
  11. ↑ Naili, Hajer (August 4, 2014). "Fertility Push Viewed as Unsexy by Young Iranians". Reuters News. Trust.org. Retrieved May 15, 2015.
  12. ↑ Ansary, Nina (August 22, 2014). "Can Women in Iran be Equal?". The Daily Beast. Retrieved May 15, 2015.
  13. ↑ Jaafari, Shirin (June 5, 2014). "After six years of silence, a women's magazine makes a comeback in Iran". PRI: Public Radio International. Retrieved May 15, 2015.
  14. ↑ Ansary, Nina (March 13, 2014). "In Iran, Keep Your Eye on Jump in Female Literacy". Women's eNews. Retrieved May 15, 2015.
  15. ↑ Jensen, Rita Henley (January 1, 2015). "Women's eNews Announces 21 Leaders 2015". Women's eNews. Retrieved May 15, 2015.
  16. ↑ Beitollahi, Yasamin (December 12, 2014). "Men Redefining the Glass Ceiling of Gender Inequality". Huffington Post. Retrieved May 15, 2015.
  17. ↑ Beitollahi, Yasamin (April 10, 2015). "Desert Dancer: Art and Humanity Blooms in Post-Revolutionary Iran". Huffington Post. Retrieved May 15, 2015.
  18. ↑ O'Connell, Claire (May 8, 2015). "Inspirefest speaker leads you back into Ireland's inventive past with Ingenious tours". SiliconRepublic.com. Retrieved May 15, 2015.
  19. 1 2 3 Tavani, Andrew (June 22, 2015). ""Would you believe that I’m a woman from Iran?" Trailer for "Jewels of Allah: The Untold Story of Women in Iran" makes viewers rethink their preconceptions". NYTLive, New York Times. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  20. ↑ Staff writer (May 7, 2015). "JEWELS OF ALLAH The Untold Story of Women in Iran". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  21. 1 2 Staff. "Iranian American Women Foundation". 2015 Iranian-American Women's Foundation. Retrieved May 14, 2015.
  22. ↑ "The Middle East Institute Advisory Board". The Middle East Institute of Columbia University. Columbia University. Retrieved May 14, 2015.
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