Iranian Women's One Million Signatures Campaign for Equality: The Inside Story

Women's Learning Partnership Translation Series
Author: Noushin Ahmadi Khorasani

Eloquently written by Noushin Ahmadi Khorasani, Iranian Women's One Million Signatures Campaign for Equality: The Inside Story details the history, strategies, and values that brought together a diverse group of Iranian women, men, and rights activists for the well-known women’s equality campaign. It is a valuable case study of a new model for grassroots movements in the twenty-first century, applicable not only in societies ruled by autocratic governments or influenced by radical fundamentalism, but also in more open and tolerant societies that have yet to achieve full equality for women.

Reviews

Iran's Million Signatures Campaign: A Leading Voice for Democracy by David Lowe in Democracy Digest, Nov 9, 2009)
"Ms. Khorasani's account of the movement goes well beyond its description of the injustices that it seeks to reform. Much of her analysis is devoted to explaining how the movement has addressed the numerous challenges it has faced internally, such as how to limit hierarchical decision making, how best to cater to the needs of young activists, how to overcome broad ideological differences, and how to broaden support into the provinces beyond Teheran. The tone is serious and thoughtful, helping make these essays an important guide for groups in autocratically ruled societies that seek to develop effective means of democratic activism."

Iranian Women's Voices by Mahnaz Afkhami in The Huffington Post, Oct 26, 2009)
"Khorasani, a renowned journalist, was a co-founder of the movement, and her account offers unique insight into an extraordinary story of Iranian women's perseverance, creativity and strength. Women came together in public and private spaces, both real and virtual, to share their stories and raise their collective voices in support of women's equal rights. The story also serves as a guide for other grassroots campaigns, a model for advocacy and education that transcends the political, economic and cultural barriers that often stand in the way of large-scale collective action."

"Offers invaluable insights into an important movement." — Leila Ahmed, Victor S. Thomas Professor of Divinity, Harvard Divinity School