Is the Islamic Republic of Iran Headed for a Sexual Revolution?
Janet Afary, a visiting professor in the Department of History, will discuss her forthcoming book, “Sexual Politics in Modern Iran” (Cambridge University Press, 2009), at a public event on May 19. This related op-ed recently appeared in the Guardian newspaper. By Janet Afary [In February] there were two celebrations in Tehran — an official commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the Islamic revolution and an unofficial and more light-hearted celebration of Valentine’s Day. Young people held hands in the streets and cafes despite warnings by the morality police. Shops did brisk business selling heart-shaped cards, chocolate, flowers, balloons, and jewelry. Husbands and wives took ads in popular Islamist journals expressing their passionate love, while Persian blogs were inundated with V-Day messages. Judging from these messages Valentine’s Day is not only a celebration of personal love, but also a way of expressing sentiments like “Make love not war.” The state views V-Day as a form of
