Women and Education in Iran and Afghanistan

This annotated bibliography provides essential insights into female education in Iran and Afghanistan, emphasizing the sociopolitical climate surrounding these issues.

This annotated bibliography, Women and Education in Iran and Afghanistan, serves as a crucial resource for understanding the landscape of female education in two significant non-Arab Muslim nations. Originating from the Mo'alem Project, sponsored by the Harvard Center on Gender and Education, it highlights the recent surge in U.S. investment aimed at enhancing educational opportunities for girls and women in predominantly Muslim countries. The increase in activities by numerous NGOs and organizations underscores the growing commitment to improving female education in these regions.

The bibliography encompasses a wide range of materials, including fiction and nonfiction books, academic articles, government publications, journals, and select theses, covering works from approximately 1975 to the present. Given the limited existing literature in this field, the authors have included a diverse array of pieces, even those that may not adhere to stringent academic standards. Each entry is accompanied by a brief descriptive abstract, making it easier for readers to grasp the significance of the work.

Additionally, Women and Education in Iran and Afghanistan features two timelines that chronicle the evolution of the women's movement alongside policy developments and key events in the political, economic, and educational sectors of both countries from the early 1900s to the early 2000s. With an insightful introduction that contextualizes the need for this information and a foreword by esteemed Iranian scholar Golnar Mehran, this reference source is invaluable for researchers and scholars interested in gender and education issues in Iran, Afghanistan, and the broader Muslim context.