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First 'Intergalactic' Resistance Studies Conference

University of Massachusetts, Amherst, USA

June 18-21, 2026 

The Poetics of Resistance: A Study of Forugh Farrokhzad’s Defiant Expression

Siavash Rafiee Rad
Year of publication: 2026
DOI: 10.63961/2026.012

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Abstract

Resistance has long been a fundamental aspect of human social existence, entwined with power dynamics and struggles for domination. While the concept of resistance is a relatively new focus in International Relations theories, its roots stretch deep into history, evolving and resurfacing in response to political and societal oppression. This article explores resistance as both an ideological stance and tactical repudiation of domination, focusing on its expression in Persian literature, particularly the works of renowned poet Forugh Farrokhzād. By examining two of her lesser-studied poems, Ey Marz-e Porgohar (‘O Bejeweled Land!’) and Aftāb Mishavad (‘The Sun Shall Shine’), through a non-structural gender lens, this study highlights how Farrokhzād's poetry challenges not only patriarchal norms but also broader political and societal power structures. The article situates Farrokhzād within the socio-political context of mid-20th-century Iran, where her defiance against gendered oppression and political repression marked her as a pioneering figure in literary resistance. It also explores the broader tradition of resistance in Persian literature, showing how poetry has historically functioned as a form of expression and agent of social change. Ultimately, the article underscores the significance of literary works like Farrokhzād’s in shaping political discourse, fostering dissent, and advancing struggles for autonomy.

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