MAHYA RASTEGAR | Staying Such A Woman
“Mahboubeh” is a woman who has studied at the Seminary. She occasionally goes to the village around her residence and teaches the Quran to the women of that village and the English language to their children.
Mahboobeh is playing bowling. Photography by MAHYA RASTEGAR © All Rights Reserved
“This collection is representative of women in Iran, who are constantly trying to make the new transformation to keep women’s identity alive, regardless of gender, along with the environmental and virtual changes of women and reduction of the attitudes of misogyny and patriarchy in society.”
– Mahya Rastegar
“Parisa” is a trainer of Tai Chi (a Chinese martial art). She is practicing Tai Chi. She has reached peace with her soul by Yoga and Tai Chi. Parisa is practicing Tai-Chi. Photography by MAHYA RASTEGAR © All Rights Reserved
Delicate bodies and frail organs with great spirits and ambitious dreams are the coordinates of women of the land on which they are still faced with a fundamental question: “Is being a woman an opportunity or a threat?”
Every woman in the world, regardless of her class, race, age, ethnicity, nationality, and religion, has more in common with any other woman than any man. “Misogyny” and “patriarchy” are the major barriers against the development of knowledge and the advancement of women in society. Woman plays the main role in her complex life story.
This complexity begins when every woman faces a break in her life. A break such as a divorce which is the beginning of a new life to build, or cancer which can make the word “hope” more meaningful in life.
“Sayeh” is a singer. She believes that the voice of women is buried in Iran. Sayeh is a female singer. She expresses her feelings through singing. She hopes for a day when singing for women will be legal in Iran and no voices will be buried anymore. Photography by MAHYA RASTEGAR © All Rights Reserved
A break is actually a beginning, and woman is the symbol of “germination”, a fundamental growth that is necessary in every society. Each woman of Iranian society, according to the social identity, the context of family, religion, economy, patriarchy, misogyny, gender discrimination, etc., determines the status of women. Hence, to answer the question “Is being a woman an opportunity or a threat?”, first, you must separate “gender” from the other segments of a woman’s identity. A woman is someone who tries with pride, power and dare to keep all the women of her inside and outside world “alive”.
To keep the concept of a woman’s identity alive, a change in society is required.
This collection is representative of women in Iran, who are constantly trying to make the new transformation to keep women’s identity alive, regardless of gender, along with the environmental and virtual changes of women and reduction of the attitudes of misogyny and patriarchy in society.
Mahdiyeh lost her right hand 6 years ago in an accident. It has been 2 years that she has decided to exercise and work alongside her husband to continue her life with self-confidence. Mahdiyeh is in a jungle with her husband and they are taking photos. Photography by MAHYA RASTEGAR © All Rights Reserved
“Mahboubeh” is a woman who has studied at the Seminary. She occasionally goes to the village around her residence and teaches the Quran to the women of that village and the English language to their children. Mahboobeh is designing for an Islamic ceremony.
Mahboubeh is a seminary graduate. She visited martyrs’ tombs with her friends, believing in the assistance of the martyrs’ soul for channeling the help of God. Photography by MAHYA RASTEGAR © All Rights Reserved
MAHYA RASTEGAR
“I am Mahya Rastegar, born 1980 in Tehran, Iran, a graduate in Photography and a Documentary Photographer, based in Tehran, Iran. I began to study Graphic Design in 2000, but quit it very soon in 2001 to find my field of interest somewhere else. After many years, in 2010, I started to study Photography, and graduated in 2013.
I am mainly a social documentary photographer, most interested to capture the influential stories of women’s lives. From the aspect of appearance, face and fashion, women are different from each other, but they are all the same in the way that all of them make efforts to get stronger in their inner world and possess the ability to live independently.
“Fahimeh” is a pilot woman. Fahimeh is flying to shiraz. MAHYA RASTEGAR © All Rights Reserved
From 2015 until now, I’ve been working on a long-term documentary photographing project with topic of Iranian women with influential stories. The collections of photos about each woman have the form of stories of their lives, meaning that I’m talking about the lives of these women by taking pictures of them. While holding on to the passion of presenting all type of women issues as a woman and after some serious researches and studies, I started shooting Iranian women trough different projects since 2013.
“Fahimeh” is a pilot woman. Fahimeh is having a conversation with local people of a deprived town. She wants to build a school there. MAHYA RASTEGAR © All Rights Reserved
