Nina Ansary is an Iranian–American historian and author best known for her work on women's equity in Iran. Ansary's research has notably countered conventional assumptions of the progress of women in Iran while continuing to advocate for full emancipation. In 2015, Women's eNews recognized Ansary as one of "21 leaders of the 21st century."
In 2013, Ansary's doctoral thesis about the women's movement in Iran produced research that would later inspire her book, The Jewels of Allah. Despite Ayatollah Khomeini's views on women, they were some of his biggest supporters and this was a key factor in the collapse of the Pahlavi Monarchy in 1979. Once it came to power, the Islamic republic in Iran did enforce the inferiority of women through policy. Ansary's research challenged assumptions about the lives of women under these policies and accented the documented, if unanticipated, consequences including a growing female literacy rate, lower fertility, and increase of women overall in higher education in Iran. By 2014, Ansary and her research became increasingly prominent in mainstream media as authoritative on women's issues in Iran. The Clarion Project featured Ansary and her work. The Daily Beast published Ansary's essays, including analysis of the possibilities of using modern interpretations of the Koran to support increased social freedoms for women as proposed by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. Ansary became a regular commentator: she wrote widely about the rise of women's literacy in Iran and supported the renewed publication of Zanan magazine, Iran's only Persian language magazine for women. In early 2015, Women's eNews named Ansary as one of their "21 leaders of the 21st century" for interrupting legacy narratives and bringing clarity to often misunderstood stereotypes. Ansary wrote that she wanted her work to dispel misconceptions and aid women living in Iran who "continue to fight an uphill battle and demonstrate their resilience." Her work grew to encompass the greater issues around gender inequality. She brought attention to the release of Desert Dancer, a biographical film about Iranian dancer Afshin Ghaffarian. Ansary was included in the 2015 InspireFest in Dublin, Ireland. In 2016, Marie Claire profiled Dr. Ansary as one of 14 privileged women to change the world. Other recognitions include a feature in Angeleno Magazine's "Living Legacies of 2016" and selection as one of "Five Iranian Visionaries You Need to Know" and "6 Women Who Build Bridges Not Walls" by The New York Times. Ansary has appeared on Larry King, The BBC and Fox News and been featured in a variety of top publications, including CNN.com, The Los Angeles Times, and Teen Vogue. In 2017, Ansary was invited to be a Visiting Fellow at the London School of Economics Centre for Women, Peace and Security. In 2018, Ansary was appointed as UN Women Champion for Innovation to advance women and girls in Technology and Entrepreneurship and began serving on the Board of Directors of the Center for Human Rights in Iran, a New York-based organization and on the board of directors of the Diplomacy Center Foundation. She was also awarded the 2018 Trailblazer Award from Barnard College at Columbia University presented to those who "exemplify the strength, determination, creativity, and courage." In 2019, Ansary was the recipient of the Ellis Island Award and was honored by the Iranian American Women Foundation as a "Woman of Influence." In 2020, Ansary received the Columbia University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Outstanding Alumni Award for "graduates who have advanced not only their academic fields, but the larger world as well."
''Jewels of Allah''
Ansary's book Jewels of Allah: The Untold Story of Women in Iran was published in 2015. The book highlights stories of Iranian women and follows the history of women's liberation in Iran both before and after the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The book received positive reviews; Kirkus Reviews called it "well-documented and persuasively written examination of the change in Iranian women’s status" and The New York Times stated that its premise is "both gripping and features a clever thought-provoking twist." The book has also won multiple awards, including the International Book Award for Women's Issues; Eric Hoffer Award for Best Culture Book, Best Book Cover, and Best Debut Author; Indie Book Award for Historical Non-Fiction and Women's Issues; ForeWord IndieFab Award for Women's Studies; and Best Book Award for Women's Issues.
''Anonymous Is a Woman''
Ansary's book Anonymous Is a Woman: A Global Chronicle of Gender Inequality was published in 2020. The book explores the roots of institutionalized gender discrimination throughout history. The book received positive reviews; San Francisco Book Review gave the book its highest rating of five stars and said, "...immersing yourself in this book will prove beneficial to your historical knowledge...a learning tool for men and women alike with insightful information galore..." and Foreword Reviews gave it a 5 out of 5 rating and said the book is “Inspiring, compelling, and necessary...an examination of the systems of power that...have silenced women’s voices and contributions."
Philanthropy
Ansary helped administer the Ansary Fellows Program at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government and the Ansary Fellowships at Texas A & M University. Ansary serves on the board of trustees of the Iranian American Women Foundation and the , She donated the profits from her book to charities, primarily those that aid disadvantaged girls and women in Iran.
