Farrokhroo Parsa was born in Qom in 1922. Her mother was the editor of the popular women's magazine Jahān-e Zan, a magazine dedicated to women’s rights and education. Farrokhroo Parsa was a physician and educator but later transitioned to political life. In 1963, she was elected to parliament where she advocated for legislation benefiting Iranian women. A few years later, she was minister of education under Prime Minister Amir Abbas Hoveida, being the first woman to hold a cabinet position. Following the Islamic Revolution, Parsa was arrested and executed by firing squad on May 8, 1980.