How did Shahrnoush Parsipour use magic realism in Women Without Men?

In her novella Women Without Men (Zanān bidūn-i mardān), Shahrnoush Parsipour employs magic realism as a narrative technique to explore the struggles of five women attempting to transcend the constraints imposed by male dominance in traditional Iranian society.1

Parsipour’s use of this style is noted for its imitation of Latin American authors, most notably Gabriel García Márquez. By integrating fantastical or surreal elements into the realistic portrayal of these women's lives, she creates a literary space where the rigid social limitations of their environment can be challenged or bypassed. This approach allows the author to depict the psychological and social realities of her characters in a way that transcends conventional storytelling, highlighting the profound impact of patriarchal structures on women's autonomy.1