Banoo: Iranian Women and Their Stories

The photographic series Banoo by Samaneh Khosravi (b. 1984) addresses the position of women in Iran today. Despite decades of oppression by a male-dominated society, women are steadily gaining ground in science and the world of work. In order to obtain insight into the situation of women in Iran and how they see themselves, the Iranian-German photographer accompanied protagonists from various different social strata and locations in Iran through their everyday lives. The resulting images show women who, contrary to the official government dogma, are an integral part of social life and are already paving the way for a new generation that will continue to stand up for dignity and the right to personal self-determination in the future. The term Banoo is a word used to refer to women that indicates respect and means lady. AUTHOR: Samaneh Khosravi, born in 1984 in Iran, relocated to Germany in 2008. As a photographer and visual researcher, Khosravi has dedicated over a decade to examining the self- and external perception of women residing in Iran. Throughout this period, she has delved into diverse facets of this subject, capturing and documenting them from various perspectives through the medium of photography. Since early 2022, Khosravi has been conducting further research in this regard, with a special focus on Generation Z as part of her doctoral studies at the University of Göttingen and the Dortmund University of Applied Sciences and Arts. Her first book Among Women, about Iranian women and their views on beauty ideals, was published in 2015. And her photography projects have been featured in prominent publications. Today Samaneh Khosravi lives and works in Bochum. SELLING POINTS: . A differentiated and intimate view on the complex issue of female role models and identity in Iran . Important and current theme: Social movement for women rights in Iran 105 colour illustrations