Voicing their presence: Postrevolution Iranian female vocalists in context

Abstract

Contemporary female musicians and vocalists in Iran represent a challenging and inspiring musical trend as a part of a dynamic and reflexive artistic and cultural wave. This trend could be compared to a trend in the first half of the 20th century in Iran, which opened the first chapter in the history of women asserting their presence and their voice as female musicians in public spaces, exemplified in the work of Qamar al-Moluk Vaziri. This article analyzes these two trends in their social and cultural contexts and explores the efforts of postrevolution female vocalists to assert their presence in musical realms. Addressing these issues in the context of political, religious, and cultural constraints, the article examines the agency of female musicians and vocal performers in the long history of women’s struggles for self-expression and voicing their presence in public spaces and on the national stage.