Roya Hakakian

In the making of this website, I was able to correspond with Roya Hakakian, an Iranian American Jewish journalist, lecturer, and writer, and have her answer a few of my questions:

How effective do you believe social media has been as a form of resistance?

SOCIAL MEDIA HAS MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR WOMEN INSIDE IRAN TO ORGANIZE A LOT MORE EASILY AND INCONSPICUOUSLY AND ALSO TO BE CONNECTED WITH THEIR COUNTERPARTS, WHETHER WITH THEIR COMPATRIOTS IN DIASPORA OR FEMINISTS EVERYWHERE.

In your experience, has it raised greater awareness outside of Iran and drawn support to the cause of women’s rights in the country?

SOCIAL MEDIA HAS ALMOST LEVELED THE "PR" PLAYING FIELD FOR THE CAUSE OF IRANIAN WOMEN. IT HAS BEEN FAR EASIER TO ATTRACT THE ATTENTION OF GLOBAL MEDIA ONCE A SOCIAL MEDIA GOES VIRAL. DURING THE YEARS THAT THE "WHITE WEDNESDAYS" SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN WAS MOST ACTIVE--DURING WHICH WOMEN IN IRAN WOULD TAKE THEIR HEAD COVERINGS OFF, TAKE A SNAPSHOT OF THEMSELVES AND POST IT ON FB--PROMINENT FEMINISTS AROUND THE GLOBE WHO WATCHED THE CAMPAIGN POSTED THOSE IMAGES ON THEIR OWN SOCIAL MEDIA FEED AND PRAISED THEM GREATLY.

Have you ever used social media in your activism around Iranian human rights? What was the result?

ACTIVISM, IF THE TERM CAN BE APPLIED TO WHAT I DO, IS MOSTLY ABOUT WRITING ABOUT WHAT THE WOMEN IN IRAN AND IN OTHER PARTS OF THE MIDDLE EAST, ARE EXPERIENCING AND DEMANDING. I POST WHAT I WRITE TO SOCIAL MEDIA. SOMETIMES THE FEEDBACK HAS BEEN ENCOURAGING. SOMETIMES, THE VARIOUS CYBER ARMIES HAVE CHOSEN TO ATTACK ME. BUT REGARDLESS, I DO CONTINUE.

What are social media’s limitations as a form of resistance in Iran?

IF THE REGIME FEELS TRULY THREATENED, AS IT HAS AT THE MOST CLIMATIC MOMENTS OF SEVERAL PROTEST MOVEMENTS IN THE PAST 20 YEARS, IT SIMPLY SHUTS DOWN THE INTERNET AND CUTS THE PEOPLE'S ACCESS TO WORLD OUTSIDE.

Can you offer any personal stories or anecdotes about social media use for political resistance inside Iran or outside the country to raise awareness?

I CONSIDER THE WHITE WEDNESDAYS CAMPAIGN AS ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL EXAMPLES OF SOCIAL MEDIA USE IN RECENT IRANIAN HISTORY.

Do you know of examples when it has led to positive change?

THAT CAMPAIGN LED TO A WIDESPREAD SOCIAL MEDIA MOVEMENT THAT LATER PAVED THE WAY FOR THE START OF THE WOMEN LIFE FREEDOM MOVEMENT IN 2022.