Three Generations in One Frame

On this International Women’s Day, we honor the ambition and inspiration of Samireh, a mother of three, teacher, and active member of her community from a remote village in Hormozgan Province. While many might have a different image of women in rural areas, Samireh stands as a powerful example of leadership within her community. Born to a mother who never completed primary school, Samireh has overcome numerous challenges to achieve a bachelor's degree, work as a teacher, and encourage her children—especially her two teenage daughters—to read daily and pursue knowledge.

Three generations in one frame: meet 40-year-old Samireh, her mother, and her 13-year-old daughter, Norah. They live in Holor village, near Dargahan in Qeshm, Hormozgan Province, in southern Iran. Samireh has raised her three children—Norah, 13; Najmeh, 10; and Mohammad, 7—with a deep love for books. As a primary school teacher, Samireh dedicates part of her salary each month to buying books for her children and never goes to bed without reading herself.

“My father was my main motivator in continuing my studies,” says Samireh, reflecting on the generational differences between her mother’s time, her own teenage years, and those of Norah. Things were very different when Samireh’s mother was a child. Nearly 50 years ago, in many provinces, especially in rural areas, girls were not expected to finish school as long as they could read and write. That’s why Samireh’s mother, like many girls of her generation, quit school after fourth grade and married at 18. However, things improved for Samireh’s generation as more girls finished school and went on to university. Samireh earned her bachelor’s degree in literature, became a primary school teacher, and married at 25. “My paternal grandmother’s home in the village had a wardrobe full of books. Even in the bathroom, there was a basket of magazines at a time when there weren’t many magazines to read,” Samireh proudly recalls, describing the family environment that nurtured her love for reading and learning.

Samireh’s 13-year-old daughter, Norah, lives in a digital world where "you can Google everything and get information," as she puts it. She notes that her friends don’t read as much as she does; instead, they are more focused on digital technology. While Norah appreciates the easier access to technology, she says what she misses most about the days when her mom was her age is seeing friends playing in the streets and neighborhoods. Norah dreams of becoming an actress. Instead of stopping her or redirecting her dream to other areas, Norah’s family provided her with all kinds of support to fulfill her dream and respected her wish. Growing up in such an enabling environment is every child’s right; a family atmosphere in which the child freely shares his/her dreams and is empowered to fulfill them. Norah is currently attending acting courses in Qeshm to pursue her dream and become an actress in future. #HappyWomensDay