Research Information System
Life Writing, 2025 (AHCI, Scopus)
Fethiye Çetin’s My Grandmother and Azar Nafisi’s Things I’ve Been Silent About demonstrate the power of life narratives to voice suppressed stories and challenge dominant historical narratives. Both memoirs explore experiences of displacement, trauma, and resilience, highlighting how personal journeys are intertwined with historical, social, and political contexts. In My Grandmother, Çetin uncovers her grandmother’s hidden Armenian identity, which reveals the devastating impact of atrocities faced by Armenians in 1915. This exploration of familial history illustrates the enduring legacy of historical trauma and the importance of reclaiming lost identities. Nafisi’s Things I’ve Been Silent About relates the complexities of living in Iran during the political transition of the 1978–79 Islamic Revolution. While seemingly progressing chronologically, the memoir deviates from a strict linear order as it interweaves past and present to explore themes of belonging, resilience, and the pursuit of freedom. Nafisi’s frequent departures from and returns to Iran have shaped her identity, leaving her with a sense of perpetual transience. We propose that both texts exemplify the power of herstory memoirs and challenge patriarchal narratives. Hence, they contribute to an inclusive historical record and foster a deeper understanding of the interconnectedness between personal struggles and broader social and political realities.