Persian Girls by Nahid Rachlin

In Nahid Rachlin’s memoir, “Persian Girls”, the author describes her life in Iran and later in America as a woman, refusing to accept both Muslim and Iranian cultural norms. This plays an important role in the lives of many characters, choosing the sometimes hard decision to break apart from cultural standards. Characters that are faced with this difficult choice include her brothers Cyrus and Parviz, her older sister Pari and Nahid herself.

Nahid’s brothers, Cyrus and Parviz, are sent to America a few years before her. Like many foreign students, they are coming from a place so different than America. Having been born and raised in Iran, they are coming from a different culture; they speak a different language and follow a different faith. Their father hopes that they will receive a better education in America, obtain their degrees, come back to Iran and let their parents find them respectful Iranian girls to marry. Living in America makes them start to wonder if that is their destiny, to follow the traditional norms expected of them. “They were immersed in the culture and even had American girlfriends, who joined us for dinner” (pg 156, Rachlin). The author is speaking about her brothers, having adjusted to American culture and having American girlfriends. “They both explained that it was difficult for them psychologically” (pg 156). But the author also mentions that is not easy for her brothers to break away from the mores expected of them. It has taken them a long time to adjust to the cues of this new culture. Going back to Iran would be difficult for them mentally. But they have adjusted to America much easier than their sister Nahid.

Both Iranian law and culture states that when a couple have a divorce, if their child is...

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...ather is forgiving her for all the ‘mistakes’ she has made with her life, referring to her marriage with Howie, and their daughter Leila. He asks her to come back to Iran, to visit him before his time on earth ends. By her breaking the norm ‘rules’, she took a risk, leaving everything to chance. It was a hard decision to make, but the hardest decisions are the ones that pay off the most.

Throughout the book, the cultural guidelines of Iran come in the way of many characters’ dreams and goals. Some choose to follow the rules, and others choose to make their own rules. It’s hard to decide on becoming the divergent, the one who knows what they want to do with their life and the one who realizes they want more out of life, instead of following the standards placed. But by breaking the cultural barriers set by society, people can choose to be who they really are.