Shahla Lahiji, the founder and director of Roshangaran and Women's Studies
publishing, is known as active researchers in the issues related to women in
Iran particularly journalism and writing. She is a graduate of Open University
of London in the field of Sociology. She is the author of .Woman's Image in
the works of Bahram Beizaei," "Understanding the Iranian woman.s identity in
pre-historic historic periods" (written with the cooperation of Mehrangiz
kar), and "Woman in search of freedom: rise and fall of women's movement in
German social democracy" (written with the cooperation of Farideh Assarpour.

While the situation of women in contemporary Iran has been one of the hottest
issues among international circles, Lahiji explains that .in spite of a only
the deficiencies are emphasized.. In her talk she argues that .the continuous
efforts of our women to participate in all social activities in the areas
which have not been previously achievable are easily dismissed. This includes
film making and related careers, where the Iranian women has pondered,
researched, studied, and talked about her shortages and claimed her rights.
Being engaged in this career for less than ten years, these women are working
in very challenging conditions which imposes limitations on them.
Nevertheless, they work has been welcomed by public and they have been more
successful than their male counterparts in picturing a more realistic image of
Iranian society..