- Paperback
- Publisher: Stanford University Press (1 Feb 2009)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0804758573
- ISBN-13: 978-0804758574
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 5,828,379 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
An Iranian anthropologist (trained and mainly resident in the US) presents seven years of qualitative research into the sexual behaviour, attitudes and dress codes of young Tehranis and their parents. She touches on homosexuality and bisexuality more briefly than I would have liked, although it is clear from the interviews she does set out that both are present (and female bisexuality possibly quite widespread) amongst her informants; she states that these issues require a wider study. She does not address transgender at all, possibly for the same reason. However, this is a very interesting read and provides a fascinating glimpse of the complexities of life in Tehran, the strategies young people use to carve out spaces to party, drink alcohol and have sex in defiance of the komite (morality police), and the success they seem to be having in changing attitudes amongst their elders (including some of the younger komite members). If you think of Iran as monolithically conservative, this would be a good corrective. It would also be a good read if you are interested in any of daily life in Iran, sexual health, or the political uses of personal choices such as dress and sexual behaviour.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
9 reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
An Intriguing Inside Account of Iran's Youth
4 Dec 2010
Format:Hardcover
Passionate Uprisings is a surprisingly informative book even for those who have kept up with social trends in contemporary Iran. Its most revealing message is that a large segment of Tehran's population has committed itself to a sexual revolution that packs a political punch.
The phrase "sexual revolution" will, for many Americans, conjure up images of the 1960s counter culture also famous for politically relevant sexual transformations. But given the fundamental differences between 21st century Tehran and 1960s America, this comparison will conceal as much as it reveals.
Something very few Americans ever faced was the prospect of incarceration and a brutal whipping for a sexual transgression. Furthermore, when Iran's conservative government-backed morality police are in high gear, "sexual transgression" can include such modest actions as wearing lipstick or letting one's hair slip out from under one's head covering. As these references to lipstick and errant locks of hair imply, Iranian women are more vulnerable than are men to assaults by the morality police, but both genders are subject to beatings and imprisonment for supposedly provocative behavior.
Even more astonishing than the ruthlessness of the authorities is the courage of the Iranians, particularly young Iranians, as they organize their sexually charged basement parties and gather in public places to flirt with outrageously straightforward intent. And for many of them, these acts of defiance are not only exciting for their own sake, they are also intentionally political.
Iranian-American author Pardis Mahdavi had more access to the relatively prosperous northern Tehranis than to Iranians of the relatively poor southern slums, and she is forthright in pointing out this aspect of her research. Being an anthropologist, she relied heavily on participant observation while she lived -- on and off over a period of seven years -- among middle and upper class Iranians. She supplemented the data she gathered in this way with scores of interviews with social workers, doctors, public health providers, and other Iranians representing a variety of ages and social statuses.
The material provided in this book covers not only attitudes toward premarital and extramarital sex, but also such rarely investigated topics as the motivations behind the use (or non-use) of condoms and young Iranians' understandings of HIV and other STIs. Passionate Uprisings is a treasure trove of information on current trends in Iranian society. It also has the added benefit of painting a very human picture of the people of Iran -- a welcome feature in light of the tendency of some media sources to demonize this fascinating country.
The phrase "sexual revolution" will, for many Americans, conjure up images of the 1960s counter culture also famous for politically relevant sexual transformations. But given the fundamental differences between 21st century Tehran and 1960s America, this comparison will conceal as much as it reveals.
Something very few Americans ever faced was the prospect of incarceration and a brutal whipping for a sexual transgression. Furthermore, when Iran's conservative government-backed morality police are in high gear, "sexual transgression" can include such modest actions as wearing lipstick or letting one's hair slip out from under one's head covering. As these references to lipstick and errant locks of hair imply, Iranian women are more vulnerable than are men to assaults by the morality police, but both genders are subject to beatings and imprisonment for supposedly provocative behavior.
Even more astonishing than the ruthlessness of the authorities is the courage of the Iranians, particularly young Iranians, as they organize their sexually charged basement parties and gather in public places to flirt with outrageously straightforward intent. And for many of them, these acts of defiance are not only exciting for their own sake, they are also intentionally political.
Iranian-American author Pardis Mahdavi had more access to the relatively prosperous northern Tehranis than to Iranians of the relatively poor southern slums, and she is forthright in pointing out this aspect of her research. Being an anthropologist, she relied heavily on participant observation while she lived -- on and off over a period of seven years -- among middle and upper class Iranians. She supplemented the data she gathered in this way with scores of interviews with social workers, doctors, public health providers, and other Iranians representing a variety of ages and social statuses.
The material provided in this book covers not only attitudes toward premarital and extramarital sex, but also such rarely investigated topics as the motivations behind the use (or non-use) of condoms and young Iranians' understandings of HIV and other STIs. Passionate Uprisings is a treasure trove of information on current trends in Iranian society. It also has the added benefit of painting a very human picture of the people of Iran -- a welcome feature in light of the tendency of some media sources to demonize this fascinating country.
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Excellent insider view of Iranian society today.
22 Jun 2010
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
This book does an excellent job of depicting the level of frustration of a large portion of Iranians today. It goes a long way in helping Westerners understand the anger and protests that erupted after the last elections why so many were willing to risk so much (life & personal freedom) to try to enable change in this very closed and controlled country.
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Pardis Mahdavi's PASSIONATE UPRISINGS gives a new view to another culture
23 Sep 2010
Format:Hardcover
Having interviewed Pardis on my radio show, I was excited to share my thoughts about the book and her overall intention of writing it.
PASSIONATE UPRISINGS allows you to see another view of Iran that is not talked about alot, especially in the states. Their views on sex and sexuality are interesting in that in some ways the thoughts of some Iranian people are not that far from some in the states--though the actions might be a stark contrast.
Pardis chronicles the experiences she had in trying to understand what was happening in the country, and the people she talked with were able to share the truth that they lived in a way that was honest and raw.
This is a book you should definitely read and then find a way to learn more on your own. You might be surprised at what you find.
PASSIONATE UPRISINGS allows you to see another view of Iran that is not talked about alot, especially in the states. Their views on sex and sexuality are interesting in that in some ways the thoughts of some Iranian people are not that far from some in the states--though the actions might be a stark contrast.
Pardis chronicles the experiences she had in trying to understand what was happening in the country, and the people she talked with were able to share the truth that they lived in a way that was honest and raw.
This is a book you should definitely read and then find a way to learn more on your own. You might be surprised at what you find.
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