Afsaneh Najmabadi

Afsaneh Najmabadi is a prominent Iranian-American scholar and historian specializing in gender and sexuality studies in modern Iran. She serves as the Francis Lee Higginson Professor of History and of Studies of Women, Gender, and Sexuality at Harvard University. Her influential work "Women with Mustaches and Men without Beards: Gender and Sexual Anxieties of Iranian Modernity" (2005) examines how concepts of gender and sexuality evolved in Iran during the 19th and early 20th centuries. The book received the Joan Kelly Memorial Prize from the American Historical Association. Najmabadi's research focuses on the intersection of politics, cultural practices, and gender in Iran and the broader Middle East. Her book "Professing Selves: Transsexuality and Same-Sex Desire in Contemporary Iran" (2014) explores contemporary Iranian policies and cultural attitudes regarding gender identity and sexual orientation. Beyond her academic publications, Najmabadi has contributed significantly to Iranian women's history through her work with the Women's Worlds in Qajar Iran digital archive project. She has also written extensively on feminist theory, Islamic feminism, and the relationship between modernity and gender in Middle Eastern contexts.

Readers appreciate Najmabadi's detailed research and academic analysis of gender and sexuality in Iranian history, particularly in "Women with Mustaches and Men Without Beards." Students and scholars note her thorough examination of primary sources and archival materials. Multiple reviewers on Goodreads mention the density of the academic writing style, with some finding it challenging to follow. A few readers note the heavy use of theory and academic jargon requires significant background knowledge. Positive feedback focuses on her insights into Iranian gender dynamics and social transformation during the Qajar period. Criticisms center on the limited accessibility for general readers. Ratings: Goodreads: - "Women with Mustaches": 4.1/5 (89 ratings) - "Professing Selves": 4.3/5 (23 ratings) Amazon: Limited reviews available, primarily from academic purchasers for coursework. Most reviews appear in academic journals rather than consumer platforms, reflecting her work's scholarly focus.

Women with Mustaches and Men without Beards: Gender and Sexual Anxieties of Iranian Modernity (2005) Examines how concepts of gender and sexuality in Iran were transformed by European colonial influences during the 19th and early 20th centuries.

The Story of the Daughters of Quchan: Gender and National Memory in Iranian History (1998) Chronicles the 1905 incident of Iranian girls sold into slavery and its impact on Iran's constitutional revolution.

Land Reform and Social Change in Iran (1987) Analyzes the implementation and effects of land reform policies in Iran from 1962 to 1971.

Professing Selves: Transsexuality and Same-Sex Desire in Contemporary Iran (2013) Documents how transsexuality became a legally and religiously sanctioned option in post-revolutionary Iran while homosexuality remained forbidden.

Women Power in Modern Iran (1981) Explores the role of women in Iranian society and politics from the Constitutional Revolution to the Islamic Revolution.

Making of Modern Iran: State and Society under Riza Shah 1921-1941 (1990) Details the social and political transformations in Iran during Reza Shah's modernization program.