From Miniskirt to Hijab

Jacqueline Saper is a CPA, educator, translator, public speaker, and expert on Iranian subject matter. Her opinion columns and articles regularly appear in national and international publications. She can be reached at JacquelineSaper.com.

List of Illustrations Acknowledgments Historical Note Part 1. Hope, 1961-1978 1. The Best of Both Worlds 2. My Iranian Mothers 3. The Shah's Spectacular Parties 4. Cracks along the Avenue 5. England Part 2. Fear, 1978-1979 6. Homecoming 7. When Jacqueline Met Ebi 8. Nightly Calls of "Allahu-akbar" 9. The Man in the Moon 10. The King Is Crying 11. Utopia? Part 3. Adapt, 1979-1980 12. My First Referendum 13. Executions 14. My Jewish Wedding in the Islamic Republic 15. "Death to America" 16. Invasion 17. The Sacred Defense Part 4. Veil, 1981-1985 18. "Sister, Guard Your Hijab" 19. The Downhill 20. The Second-Class Citizen 21. Public Life, Private Self 22. Half of the World's Beauty 23. Front of the War, Front of the Plane 24. "The Martyr" Part 5. Resolve, 1986-1987 25. Welcome to First Grade 26. Why Is This Night Different? 27. The View from the Rooftop 28. Flight Epilogue Glossary of Persian, Arabic, and Hebrew Terms Notes Bibliography Reading Group Discussion Guide

"Provides a well-informed and richly detailed portrayal of one woman's life as she bears witness to the cultural backlash and economic inequality that inspired a revolution against Iran's secular and Western-friendly government."-Lauren Hakimi, Forward "From Miniskirt to Hijab is a deeply moving memoir that vividly details the struggle of human life-both collective and individual-under authoritarian rule. Saper's insightful and compelling narrative is extraordinary in its use of personal perspective to mourn the rapid loss of Iran's once progressive society. This book is both an important historical account and a cautionary tale, a poignant reminder of the devastating impact an unchecked regime has on its unwilling participants."-Bardia Fard, chapter president of the Iranian-American Bar Association "In addition to being a memoir of resiliency and courage, From Miniskirt to Hijab offers glimpses into Iran's history and customs, its arts and laws, and how its social institutions operate and its people think."-Fred Reiss, San Diego Jewish World "From Miniskirt to Hijab will leave readers with the ability to understand the deeper issues related to post-revolutionary Iran. Simply put, anyone who wants to understand the human element behind American policy vis-A-vis Iran should read (and quote) this book, which should be read widely in college classrooms, among other places."-Tabby Refael, Jewish Journal "Jacqueline Saper's From Miniskirt to Hijab: A Girl in Revolutionary Iran is a welcome addition in the genre of memoir writing by Iranian women in diaspora."-Claudia Yaghoobi, Reading Religion "Richly informative, From Miniskirt to Hijab captures a difficult time in Iranian history with honesty and candor. Saper demonstrates her love for the country of her birth while realistically discussing some of the challenges confronting a non-Shiite in a very conservative society."-Mateo Mohammad Farzaneh, associate professor of history at Northeastern Illinois University and author of The Iranian Constitutional Revolution and the Clerical Leadership of Khurasani "From Miniskirt to Hijab is the best book yet to explain the contrast of life under the rule of the Shah versus that of the Ayatollahs. Saper is uniquely able to articulate the underlying dynamic of Iran's sudden rejection of a Western culture that was idealized for years before 1979. This book is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the causes of turmoil in one of the most volatile regions of the world."-Bobak Kalhor, director and producer of A Dying King: The Shah of Iran "From Miniskirt to Hijab illustrates the different ways religion, prejudice, discrimination, power, and minority statuses differ vastly from place to place but also share common features. Moreover, the book also teaches the strengths that diversity can bring to any culture."-Jessica Emami, adjunct professor of sociology at Marymount University "From Miniskirt to Hijab: A Girl in Revolutionary Iran provides a memoir not just of Jacqueline Saper, but of a pivotal time in conservative Iran, and should be required reading for anyone interested in the social evolution of Iran and women's changing experiences and roles in that country."-Diane C. Donovan, Donovan's Bookshelf