A Women’s HerStory Month Q&A with Assistant Professor of Law and Society Atieh Babakhani

March 21, 2025

by Liz Mendicino ’26

What has been your favorite memory as a professor at Ramapo? 

This is a tough one! There isn’t just one specific moment, but some of my favorite memories come from seeing the impact of a course by the end of the semester. One of the most memorable things is when I can tell that students have started to think differently about a topic they might have dismissed or viewed in a certain way at the beginning. That shift in perspective really stays with me. Another favorite memory is when students come up to me at the end of the semester and tell me how much they enjoyed the class—especially those who aren’t law and society majors. When a student who didn’t expect to connect with the material tells me they got something meaningful out of it, that’s always a special moment.

Why did you choose to become a professor at Ramapo? 

Law and society is a discipline I’m really passionate about, and there aren’t that many programs dedicated to it around the country—Ramapo is one of the few. But my decision to choose Ramapo goes beyond just the program itself—it really comes down to my campus visit back in Fall 2022. The first thing that stood out to me when meeting the Law and Society faculty for the first time was that I felt instantly comfortable, as if I’d known them for years! They were incredibly welcoming and that sense of warmth and connection really stuck with me. Another thing that caught my attention was the diversity of faculty and students. Coming from institutions that weren’t very diverse, it was really noticeable how diverse this small community is. I even remember mentioning it to Dean Lorenz during my campus visit! Finally, when I presented my research to Ramapo students on that day, their enthusiasm and thoughtful questions clearly showed their strong training in law and society. These interactions and observations made Ramapo feel like the right fit for me!

What is your area of interest in terms of research & teaching?  

My research interests revolve around the legal profession in authoritarian regimes and the intersections between law and gender inequality. Specifically, I focus on lawyers in Iran and how they either resist or facilitate authoritarianism, as well as how they challenge or reinforce gender inequalities codified in law. I’ve also conducted research on the experiences of domestic violence survivors in Iran and their interactions with the police and criminal courts as gender organizations and the transformation of their legal consciousness through these experiences. My teaching closely aligns with my research. I’m passionate about teaching courses that explore how laws create, maintain, and reinforce social inequalities—that’s why I enjoy teaching classes like Law and Gender and Law and Race. I’m also really interested in the question of how unjust laws should be challenged, which is what led me to teach Civil Disobedience.

How do you think being a woman in your field helps to empower your students? 

I don’t come from a privileged background, and for as long as I can remember, I’ve worked really hard to get to where I am. That said, I know hard work alone isn’t always enough—everyone faces different challenges, and some barriers are harder to overcome than others. But as someone who worked as a lawyer in Iran, where the legal profession is still heavily male-dominated (just like in the U.S., where men still hold most top positions in legal practice and academia), I know firsthand what it’s like to navigate spaces that weren’t necessarily built for you as a woman. I think that experience can be really empowering for my students, especially my female students who aspire to become lawyers, educators, or changemakers.

What does Women’s HerStory Month mean to you?  

Because gender equality and women’s rights are central to both my research and teaching, I engage with these issues all the time—but this month holds a special personal significance for me. As an Iranian woman, Women’s Herstory Month always makes me reflect on the struggles and courageous actions of women in Iran who continue to stand up for their basic rights and gender equality. Since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, women in Iran have been systematically treated as second-class citizens, facing discrimination and oppressive laws. But Iranian women have never passively accepted these restrictions. In fact, they have resisted from the very beginning. Just two months after the revolution, on March 8, 1979, thousands of Iranian women took to the streets to protest mandatory hijab laws. That legacy of resistance still exists today, and it has become part of women’s everyday lives. So when I think of Iranian women, I see them as symbols of bravery.  For example, appearing in public spaces without the hijab is one way they challenge restrictive laws, while they are fully aware of the consequences they might face. Their defiance has made it more challenging for the government to enforce the recent restrictions regarding compulsory hijab laws passed by parliament. So for me, Women’s Herstory Month isn’t just a symbolic celebration; it’s a powerful reminder of the bravery, persistence, and resilience of Iranian women—and women around the world—who continue fighting tirelessly for equality.

What is your favorite thing about Ramapo students? 

One of the things I love most about Ramapo students is how passionate and engaged some of them are. They’re not just sitting in class passively—they care about the topics we discuss, ask great questions, and are genuinely eager to learn. That kind of energy makes teaching so much more rewarding for me! They also motivate me to be the best version of myself as a professor. Their enthusiasm pushes me to keep improving my classes and make them as engaging and interesting as possible. And something I didn’t expect—but really appreciate—is how they help create a sense of community. Being relatively new to Ramapo, I’ve noticed how welcoming students are and how they contribute to building that feeling of belonging.