Women and Islam Topic of Lectures at UVa-Wise Oct. 2-3

Farzaneh M. Milani, professor of Asian and Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures and chair of Studies in Women and Gender at the University of Virginia, will discuss women and Islam during two lectures at The University of Virginia's College at Wise.

At 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 2, Milani will present "One in Five: Women and Islam." One out of every five women living in the world today is a Muslim woman, a ratio that is projected to be one out of every four by year 2020. Although no conveniently typical "Muslim Woman" exists, this lecture will examine the myths and the realities of the perceived "Muslim Woman." The lecture, which is free and open to the public, will be held in the Chapel of All Faiths.

Milani will explore "Beauty and Violence: From Cinderella to Barbie" during a free public lecture in the Chapel of All Faiths at 1 p.m. on Oct. 3.

Born and raised in Iran, Milani received her B.A. in French Literature from California State University at Hayward and completed her graduate studies in Comparative Literature at the University of California in Los Angeles. She taught Persian Language and Literature at UCLA for four years before coming to the University of Virginia in 1986. Past president of the Association of Middle Eastern Women Studies in America, Milani was the recipient of Alumni Teaching Award in 1998. She is the author of "Veils and Words: The Emerging Voices of Iranian Women Writers" (chosen as one of the "12 most indispensable books written in English about Iran in the last twenty years"); guest editor of two special issues of "Nimeye Digar," and co-translator (with Kaveh Safa) of "A Cup of Sin: Selected Poems of Simin Behbahani." Milani has written over 60 articles, book chapters, introductions, and afterwards in Persian and English and lectured at over 100 colleges and universities nationally and internationally. Her poems have been published in "Nimeye Digar," "Par," "Barrayand," "Daneshju," "Omid," and "Avaye Portland."

Milani's visit to UVa-Wise is part of the College's University Fellows program. Established in 1998 to forge more direct links between the academic programs at UVA-Wise and U.Va., the University Fellows program offers faculty and students at UVA-Wise an opportunity to interact with some of the University's most outstanding professors.

For more information, contact the Office of College Relations at 276-328-0130.