Coming of Age in Iran

The major contribution of Hashemi’s book lies in a vast spectrum of examples unfolding the mechanisms through which the low-income youth, on the one hand, internalize the conformity versus performance game; and, on the other hand, redefine the meaning of dignity beyond its immediate connection with capital accumulation. By putting the moral self at the core of its analysis, Coming of Age in Iran adds further nuances to the literature on bottom-up responses to economic deprivation ... the stories presented in the book are a thought-provoking invitation to reassess the value of shifting and evolving subjectivities for understanding broader social transformations. * Iranian Studies *
Manata Hashemi’s Coming of Age in Iran is a fascinating and timely study of working class youth negotiating the difficult conditions of their work, status, and self-respect. Hashemi combines a keen attention to gender and class as well as to the details of local and regional identity, in Tehran and beyond. Understanding themselves as modern individuals who must make their way in a world of limited economic opportunities, dilute religiosity, and faded revolutionary dreams, Hashemi shows how these young men and women save face and find dignity, publicly performing community norms of accommodation while privately searching for the elusive goal of individual opportunity. -- Norma Claire Moruzzi, author of Speaking through the Mask: Hannah Arendt and the Politics of Social Identity
What does it mean to be young, poor, and aspirational in Iran? In this rich ethnography, Manata Hashemi answers by describing how young people ‘perform’ upward mobility, convey moral virtue and largely obey dominant social and cultural norms. This nuanced book offers a different picture of Iranian youth: conformists rather than rebels, they are intent on maintaining their dignity as they negotiate their precarious circumstances. -- Diane Singerman, author of Cairo Contested: Governance, Urban Space, and Global Modernity
Manata Hashemi is an astute observer who provides readers a clear understanding of youth in Iran ... a highly informative account of Iranian youth struggling in poverty and can be viewed as a significant contribution to ethnographic and sociology scholarship. * Social Forces *
As an ethnic Iranian with knowledge of Persian and the local context in Iran, Hashemi is more than qualified to produce such an important piece of work…Hashemi argues that Iranian youth should not be summarily characterized with lopsided tags such as marginalization, hopelessness, and exclusion because there is a culture of acceptance of dominant social norms amongst them, which constitutes agency, individuality, and subjectivity. * Social Identities *
On balance, Hashemi’s research and insights shed a great deal of light on a tapestry of cultures, customs, and evolving moral frameworks within the context of youth culture. The book is commendable for providing a deeper understanding of the struggle of Iranian youth to cope with poverty while maintaining their dignity. -- Mahmood Monshipouri * Middle East Journal *