Photographer Maryam Bakhshi shows us that Iranian women and girls enjoy leisure time just as much as anyone. Here they are pictured by the pool, camping, and partying--typical activities that are often overlooked by mainstream depictions of Muslimas.

Pool. Mana 28, interior manager of a company, spends her holiday in a pool party in Karadj Tehran. (2011)

Iranian girls and women live a social life just like any other woman; they party, go camping, and enjoy themselves. Perhaps these photos are hard to believe for those whose attitudes toward Iranian women is based on the Iranian government, not the Iranian people. Since these women aren’t legally allowed to appear in public places as they wish they could, they show up totally different in these private moments.

About the Author

Maryam Bakhshi has studied chemistry and photography. She has been working as a photojournalist in newspapers in Iran. Being interested in studio photography she works in documentry photography concentrating on life style. In recent years she has worked as the photo editor in a weekly magazine. She believes that photography is easiest way to express her idea since it is fast, real, and can capture individual moments.

Related Content

Making Progress

Ani Zonneveld
Activist and co-founder of Muslims for Progressive Values Ani Zonneveld explains how Islam fits into her modern life.
More

Half-Value Life

Alka Sadat and Maria Bashir
Alka Sadat’s award-winning documentary Half-Value Life follows Maria Bashir, an Afghan female public prosecutor from Herat province, who deals with criminals, Mafia bands and narcotics smugglers.
More

Changing Perceptions

Helen Zughaib
Helen Zughaib mixes familiar Western motifs with traditional Islamic abayas in an attempt to bridge East and West and confound predominant stereotypes. Explore this slideshow of her work, which references everything from Lichtenstein to Wonder Woman.
More

Voices Behind the Veils

Malina Suliman and Shamsia Hassani
Malina Suliman and Shamsia Hassani are Muslim women street artists in Afghanistan. They discuss their work, what inspires them, and what challenges they face.
More