Chopped hair and discarded hijabs have become worldwide symbols for women’s liberation after the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini. And for many Iranian American women, the ongoing movement has excavated traumatic histories and stories of oppression they thought they left behind. But staying silent is not an option, they say, especially since they won’t suffer the same consequences their loved ones in Iran face. As the Women, Life, Freedom movement continues, Bay Area Iranian American women are bringing their lived experiences into protest art projects that speak to the beauty of the Iranian diaspora while condemning the current regime’s subjugation of its people. The stories they carry prove that Iran is not just a country in turmoil, but the home of a culture and a heritage they’re embodying through their art, for the liberation of future generations. Read more through 🔗 the in our bio. ✍️: Justin Ebrahemi 📸: Badri Valian, Carolina Porras Monroy