Afsaneh Najmabadi

About the Author

Afsaneh Najmabadi is a distinguished scholar and historian whose work illuminates the intricate intersections of gender, sexuality, and culture in the Middle East. Born in Iran and educated at institutions including the University of Pennsylvania, she has held prestigious positions such as professor of history and women's studies at Harvard University. Najmabadi's research challenges conventional narratives by exploring how modern notions of love, desire, and identity have evolved in Iranian society, drawing on archival sources, literature, and oral histories. Her seminal book, Professing Selves: Transsexuality and Same-Sex Desire in Contemporary Iran, offers a groundbreaking analysis of transgender experiences and same-sex desires within the context of Islamic modernity, highlighting the tensions between state policies, religious norms, and personal agency. Through her incisive scholarship, Najmabadi bridges Persian studies with queer theory, fostering a deeper understanding of non-Western sexualities and the fluidity of self-expression in conservative societies.