Going to Iran during such a politically and ethically tense era is not recommended for women—refusal to wear a hijab results in imprisonment. My family’s tradition is for women to have gold hoops crafted in Iran. Unfortunately, neither my mother nor my grandmother have been in 25 years. My mom generously gave me hers, as my grandmother had given her extra set to my older sister. I've learned to cherish this piece of jewelry, as it is the last thing my grandmother has bought from her homeland. She talks about going there and seeing her friends who wouldn't leave. Paintings and photos from pre-Shah Iran cover the wall of my grandparent's home as they praise the culture and freedom their country once knew. Pre-Shah Iran was a society where women were socially and economically equal to men. Countries in the Middle East nowadays prevent women from going to school, driving, leaving the house alone, and many other restricting laws. The age of consent in Iran is nine years old, and Afghanistan has passed a new law that deems a woman’s voice too personal to be heard in public by anyone other than her husband or family members. These laws infringe on fundamental human rights and individuality; women are perceived more and more as property, an extreme contrast to the progressive Iran my grandparents knew. Cherishing this piece of jewelry is similar to remembering a time that is long gone. My grandparents will forever reminisce about the glory of their home. If seeing their descendants wearing a piece of their home indulges them, I will proudly wear my Iranian hoops.

– Colette Schottland

Relationship:  Grandchild of im/migrant Grandchild of im/migrant