February 2024 – June 2024

Meeting Format: Zoom

Meeting Time: Every other Sunday, 4-5pm (Pacific Time)

Shiva Mendez and Sara Khorshidifard

Our identity is multilayered, encompassing more than just our profession—it includes our upbringings, lived experiences, challenges, and dreams. This idea was central to our second BIBI book club selection, "Women Without Men," a powerful work of magical realism. The novella, set during the pivotal 1953 Iranian coup d'état, follows five Iranian women on a journey of self-discovery and transformation. The imaginative, metaphorical and almost transcendental narrative resonated with us collectively, yet personally varied in its impact. For those of us who spent more time in Iran, the stories felt more personal, while for others born and raised elsewhere, they were more intangible yet still meaningful. Together, we celebrated not only these nuances of difference but also the diverse nature of the characters themselves. We immersed ourselves in how literature, by exploring unique characters and situations, reflects both the universal and the intimate human condition, connecting us as members of the same vulnerable human tribe while honoring cultural and individual differences. Although the book was not directly related to design, it resonated with us coming from the building industry through its references to culturally familiar spatialities, such as courtyard houses, Persian gardens, and traditional bathhouses, as well as mentions of places we knew, like Tehran and Karaj. These elements enriched our experience, blending cultural familiarity with the narrative’s themes. In our final session, we watched the film adaptation of "Women Without Men" by Shirin Neshat. We emerged from this journey feeling more empowered, more in tune with ourselves, and more aware of our potential.