Embodiment, Power, and Politics in the context of Sigheh Marriages in Modern Iran

Farahbakhsh’s Zendegi-ye Khosusi (2011) narrates the life story of a former religious zealot, Ebrahim Kiani, who has transformed into a Reformist. Ebrahim has a decent family life, a wife, Forugh, and a son. One night at a party, he is introduced to Parisa Zandi, and their relationship culminates in their sigheh marriage. Highlighting the unsettling balance of the political and the personal, the manipulation of religion, double standards, and gendered inequality, Zendegi-ye Khosusi demonstrates the inimical power of patriarchy to protect and maintain male dominance. Farahbakhsh depicts the politicization of the female body and sexuality in the context of sigheh under the Islamic regime. I argue that Zendegi-ye Khosusi demonstrates the inimical power of patriarchy to willingly eliminate a female body in order to protect and maintain the male prerogative while precariously balancing political ideals, personal desires, and religious beliefs in a society dominated by gender disparities.

Please note that this lecture will be in English.

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