Afkhami shared stories from her childhood in Iran and her experience as part of the women’s rights movements in Iran before and after the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Students asked about how women’s rights movements can be understood as globally interconnected, as well as what Afkhami remembered about working with the Shah and his cabinet. Afkhami was particularly proud of the strides that Iran had made in granting women access to education, parental leave, and childcare during her time as the Minister of Women’s Affairs. Afkhami closed by speaking about the important lessons that can be learned from today’s Iranian women who are working hard to achieve democracy and freedom.  Students in the Modern Middle East course are engaged in full Assignment about the Iranian Revolution and will continue their study of contemporary youth culture and women’s movements in Iran next week.