We will be watching Persepolis in class on Wednesday and Friday this week and it will serve to give you a history lesson on the Iranian Revolution as well as a look into the role of women in Iranian civil society. Before we watch it though, I wanted to give you all a more recent (and academic) analysis of the increasing role of women in Iranian society. Read this article and answer the following questions.
1. Does this give you a different perspective on the role of women in Iran? Does it modify any preconceived notions about the opportunities afforded to Iranian women?
2. Does the less conservative President Rouhani provide a temporary opening for women to achieve certain social and political goals, or is this just a first step in a more permanent, long-term change? What are some obstacles that women in Iran still face in achieving their goals? Explain your reasoning.
1) It does modify my view of women in Iran. I previously believed to be very oppressive to women, akin to Saudi Arabia. However I find it strange that the leadership would allow women to go to college, but restrict them from utilizing their education.
ReplyDelete2) After reading this I feel that women will play a larger role in the future of the nation. There is a large population of educated women not being used to their full potential. This breeds cynicism and dissent, and as more and more classes graduate, there will be more and more liberal and educated women. This builds a foundation from which change may stem, because even if leadership changes to become more conservative, the people themselves will still be restless and against the status quo. Just as Egypt continues to face protest from the student population because of a lack of change, so will Iran.
DeleteI agree with your point about the irony of allowing women to go to college, and then restricting them from using their education- you would think that such an investment in education would pay off in allowing women to work in the government and in the private sector. However, Iran is ruled by its social and religious traditions, which in a way could be preventing them from economic progress.
Delete1. The major point that this article made was the emergence of activist groups in Iran not just for gender equality but also for causes like environmental protection and urban issues. I was surprised mostly at the openness with which some women spoke about their education in relation to men.
ReplyDelete1.) I think that the article makes a strong argument to counter many of our preconceived notions that come from an East-West standpoint. Before Rouhani, Iran was often (and often deservedly) vilified by the West, and many of our expectations of their society were criticized by, "the civilized West". However, we are now learning that women play a strong role in shaping Iran, and hope to increase their role.
ReplyDeleteFrom the article, it seems as if there really haven't been any great steps taken to cause change in Iran, and I personally don't think that the article makes a strong argument that such changes are taking place. If anything, it seems to portray a more gradual shift that may have now accelerated somewhat
Delete1. Yes for me it does because we have always been told that Iran is one of the most chauvinistic countries in the world and do not respect women in any way. I was not aware of the duarte number of women who have received education. This is significant because education is the first step in job hunting and although employers are not wanting women now, it is only a matter of time because the new less conservative regime will certainly help women get into the workplace
ReplyDelete1) This article demonstrates that Iran continues to have an internal struggle between the old and the new—and the somewhat surprising aspect of this article is the fact that it does not seem as if the activists mentioned in the article are seeking a complete change in society—but rather just a few more economic opportunities.
ReplyDeleteI agree. I think because of this, the changes will be long lasting. If they were seeking a complete change, then many people would be unwilling to accept it.
Delete1. Not particularly, as I already knew that the women were prevalent in education and they were working towards being able to be afforded more opportunities for themselves. I just think women's social status is interesting, so I try to stay informed. I did, however, think it was interesting that they [this they being the government] are pushing for larger families. I agree with Laylez that the country should be focused on wealth and better societal conditions - not a baby boom.
ReplyDelete1. For the most part, I was under the impression that the majority of the Middle East was under a male-dominated society, especially Iran. However, after reading this article I realized that women have both increased rights to education and increasing rights in other sectors. For example, women still emigrate to find jobs elsewhere, the reason being, the Iranian social values at the time are not conducive to and does not foster an environment which is favorable for women. While the climate for an equal gender rights society is not fully realized, the gradual steps towards one are a good sign of a step towards a modernized, equal country.
ReplyDeleteI agree because social equality is not overnight and will take many years to change the culture that these people live in. It will be gradual and eventually women will have the same rights as men
Delete2) Rouhani's election provides the opportunity for many in Iran to press for change. and it is possible that significant steps will be taken to further advance the Iranian economy and to modify its political system. Of course, it is difficult to make such lasting change in a society that has seen much oppression from its government over the past decades.
ReplyDeleteI agree that it is difficult to provide social change in the short term. Culture and social makeup has so many factors that one president can help but long term effects are difficult to gage.
Delete1. Yes, it shows that women are able to be more involved in society under the new regime. It modifies preconceived notions because many people think that women have absolutely no rights in Iran.
ReplyDelete2. It will probably be a long term change. In order for Iran to improve its economy, they have to get women involved. Some obstacles that they face are competition from people who would prefer jobs dominated by males rather than females. This causes women to look in other countries for opportunities rather than in Iran.
ReplyDelete1. This does change my understanding of women in Iran because women have the ability to go to college but it is still not close to where it needs to be. Iran needs to utilize the other half of its population in order to have a thriving economy. They have a serious problem with emigration and if the president does not act then they will find that in the future they will be behind the rest of the world.
ReplyDelete2. If this new idea of giving women jobs is a success to Iran both socially and economically then yes it will become a lasting change. If it ain't broke don't fix it. If they can start to revive their power than the change will stick and if not then the women may go back to being oppressed.
ReplyDeleteI agree with this. The government will react well to the social change if the economy also improves. If the government keeps the people in poverty, then they will eventually rise up and revolt, but if they improve the nation then they will stay in power. A wealthy nation is a happy nation
Delete1. This did offer a different perspective on women in Iran. My preconceived notions were that the conservative Middle Eastern nations, especially with the Muslim influence, restricted the rights of women concerning education and political involvement. I guess in a way that is still true, since there is discrimination when it comes to professional opportunities, but overall women in Iran have a lot more opportunity than I previously believed.
ReplyDeleteI suppose my preconceived notions about the role of women in Iran were that they were oppressed and unable to voice their opinions. But after reading the article I have new insight to the reality of the Iranian woman's situation. The are usually very educated and ready to contribute to the workforce.
ReplyDeleteI think it's too early to say wether Rouhani will provide long term change for women. Iran's government has a history of instability and if the less conservative Rouhani cannot work peacefully with the strong clergy than he may be overthrown as well. Then he obviously cannot provide that much change. But there has been a general change in the openness of woman and their ability to advocate for them selves so maybe this movement with continue because Rouhani can be overthrown but the female population is another thing to fight. But the women still have the general male opinion to worry about. Many of them are wary to allow women into the workforce. Which is understandable, they are not used to it, the men were raised in a male society. But the women seem to be more educated so hopefully Iran will continue to be pragmatic and strides for women's rights will continue
DeleteThey still seem to be rather oppressed even though they have a greater presence in universities, as the ultimate goal of the universities is to allow the graduate to attain a degree and find a job. With the women only gaining degrees and not finding jobs, they are basically being filled with a false sense of progress, as their new liberties are not showing to be very effective.
DeleteI would have to disagree a bit with the goal of education. It nonetheless has value despite the lack of a job market, because women are no longer living in complete ignorance of their situation. Rather, they can be educated on the economy and political atmosphere, though I agree their education is not reaching its full potential.
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ReplyDelete150000 a year, thats a big number of college graduates, I honestly didnt kniw what to expect from iran,but it surely wasnt the fact that many college educated people. I was alos a bit more surprised at the fact that women on average are more educated than men, it s muslim country and I had serverly doubted that it would let women even go to college.
ReplyDelete2.) I think that any significant changes to Iranian society will be long, and fragile. Though we have become excited at the possibilities presented by Rouhani, we must remember that much of his plans are subject to the Ayatollah council, and many of them are extremely conservative. When Ambassador Dennis Ross, special advisor to the past 4 administrations on the Middle East, spoke at the World Affairs Council last year, he warned us to not raise our expectations to high. He said that a reformer in Iran still has to fear a largely conservative base of power, and that significant changes might take multiple terms, If not multiple presidents, to effect.
ReplyDeleteI think the upcoming, younger generation will become a strong force in combating the existing conservative power in Iran. We may see in the future that Iran will be able to achieve a level of equality unimaginable by the conservatives of today.
DeleteYou make a good point Andy. The youth in many developing countries is the key to change, as we have seen in many Arab countries over the last few years.
Delete1) While I knew that women in Iran were not under a completely oppressive regime where they were treated as non-people by the government, the article did inform me exactly how far their freedom goes in Iran. The fact that 60% of the college population is female honestly surprised me, though the 20% in the workforce figure did not.
ReplyDelete2. I think that President Rouhani could be a symbol of hope and also the instigator of a new period of gradual change in gender relations in Iran. However, since the current genders statuses are a product of Iran's theocracy, it's going to take a lot longer than one presidency to permanently fix the issues that affect women now. Rouhani is only one man, and much of the barriers to female freedoms are put up by Iran's civil society despite the laws that are in place. To change the status of women, Iran May have to undergo a series of changes politically, socially and ultimately, economically.
ReplyDeleteThis comment entirely. I have little doubt that Rouhani's intentions are in the right place, but despite the progress that had been made, Iran is still a Theocracy, and the strict Islamic adherence in Iran is still present. Many of these values will have to dissolve into more secular ones before true change can be instituted.
DeleteYou make a great point Taylor, well said.
DeleteI agree - I think that Rohani's term did provide for change, and a resurge in the women's movement. However, it is going to take a fundamental change in the society's perception of women to truly spur the movement to success. Without ground level support, and rethinking the teaching of the old generation the movement will die. Schools need to teach female empowerment, public places need equality, and jobs need to be offered to women that aren't just housework and other traditional roles. I think that once someone sets an example that the movement will have a leader (like Gandhi, or King). Right now, I think that the movement needs to be organized, and that a clear goal should be outlined. Of course, the way to reach that goal is to get support behind Rohani.
DeleteBefore reading this article I was very ignorant to Iranian civil society, not saying that I am an expert now, just that I have a more optimistic view of the role of women in Iran. I thought that woman were like prisoners on their own sex and were stuck in a perpetual routine of sub servitude and gender inequality. However, the article brings out that 60% of college students in Iran are women. While some would say that the real goal is equality in the workplace, I think that it is great that women are dominating the class rooms. In my opinion, the success of a group of people starts with education, much like W. E. B. DuBois believed in regards to the education of blacks. However, women still need help when it comes to earning jobs of their own after achieving their degrees and paying their intellectual dues in college. There is room for growth and renewal; therefore, I have a newfound optimism.
ReplyDeleteThis is number 1. XD
DeleteI felt the same way, and I kind of felt bad because a lot of other people knew that women had more opportunities. It's good that we're both a lot more optimistic about gender equality in Iran now.
Delete1. I think that my perception did change about the opportunities that Iranian women have. I think that American media often portrays Iran as a place with little freedom but this development by Iranian women is significant and should be praised around the world. I had no idea that Iranian women had access to so much education, or could make decisions that are so pivotal in their lives. This being said, I think that my pre-conceived notions have been diluted, and I love that Iranian women to an extent are fighting for liberation, and girl power. :)
ReplyDelete2. I think that Rohani's presence is sort of a catalyst. However, I still think that the movement is larger then his approval. I think that the women will continue to fight for better conditions, and that foreign aid and feminists will support their efforts. The United Nations in fact stated that education to women about the world, their educations, their health, and prolonging child life/domestic health is the basis for success in the future. This being said, I think that as long as the UN and other NGOs are in existence, that these women will have support, and will continue to raise their voices. I also think that their own motivation, and increased education (and emigration to other countries for work) will spur the Iranian culture to find value in what they can offer, regardless of their gender.
2. This could be a step to a more permanent solution for women. The younger generation will not allow the traditional roles be defined as they are now. It is almost a necessary step to permanent reform if Iran still wants to be relevant in this world. Women still need to be able to find jobs in Iran or else Iran will face a serious problem with the lack of an intelligent population in the future. Iran needs equality before their economy can boot up.
ReplyDelete2. I believe that the change will be gradual and it is highly susceptible to challenges. Although the less conservative perspective of Rouhani is a drastic change from Ahmadinejad, I believe it is the first progressive step towards a working, long-term change which fosters an environment that both encourages education and the utilization of education for women. The main impediment would be the religious and cultural values which are engrained in many traditional individuals within Iran's society. Since men still discourage women getting jobs, women are forced to export their brains and emigrate to foreign countries to find job opportunities which are advantageous to them.
ReplyDelete1. The article did change my perception of Iran and the participation of their women in their society, however, to a certain extent. I was amazed to learn that the women has outnumbered the men tremendously in universities and classes. However, there is the problem of women in the workplace which is one of the problems the activists are tackling currently.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you. I was surprised that women outnumbered men in college; however, the fact that men still outnumbered women in the work force offset that surprise.
Delete1)The preconceived notion that the role of females in Iran was extremely limited did change after reading this article. The fact that there is a social movement promoting an increase in women's role among the workforce, while also acknowledging that woman do better than men in school, suggests that there is a particular noticeability by Iran's government towards how unjustly women are treated. One fact in particular that got my attention was how women made up more than 60 percent of the college population but only 20 percent of the working population. This inclined that Iran is still in a transitional change concerning women's rights an because the article continuously mentioned president Rhouhani, suggests that Iran wants those numbers to change with this newly elected leader.
ReplyDelete2. I think that Rouhani's election definitely provides the potential for long term change, but that it ultimately depends on what Rouhani does as president. If the Supreme Leader's proposed law restricting women does go into effect, then obviously they ate taking a step away from long term change. If Rouhani decides to act to restrict the obstacles that women face professionally, and encourage women to look for employment in Iran rather than abroad, I think that a more permanent change is within reach.
ReplyDelete2) "He has no other choice," Laylez says. "Women have better education than the men."
ReplyDeleteI think that the current president is only going to gradually give the women freedoms on a grdual basis. Iran is a male dominated country and the president and women still have to face the mens views on women in the workplace. The president, should he try to give the women more work and freedoms would have to tread lightky around the opposituon of the men and mosr assurably the military and any other male dominated profession.
1. For me, this article changed my perception of the liberties of women only slightly. Although they are awarded the right to an education, that education is very limited in value if the workplace still discriminates against women. The deeply rooted sexist beliefs that countries like Iran hold cannot just be eradicated by a less conservative leader like Rouhani but takes time.
ReplyDelete1. I previously believed that Iran had very few opportunities for women. This article served the purpose of confirming that assumption; however it also helped me understand that Iran is moving in the right direction under President Hassan Rouhani. It seemed weird that Iran would have women outnumber men in universities, yet have men overwhelmingly outnumber women in the workforce. To me this seems stupid, as the women are definitely more qualified and better suited for the jobs due to their higher education on average.
ReplyDelete1. I had the preconceived idea that women in Iran were not given much freedom because it is a very conservative country. This article, however, does offer a different perspective on the role of women in terms of education. I was surprised to learn that more than 60% of students attending college are women because Iran appears to be male dominated in almost all aspects of society; however, this unsurprising predominance of males in society is still demonstrated by the lack of women in the work force as it seems that although more women are being educated, more men are hired for those jobs that could be open to those educated women.
ReplyDelete2. I think the change that is being brought about due to President Rouhani and due to his less conservative approach. However I also believe that these slight progresses towards the acceptance of women in the workforce will be lasting as societies tend to not make change easy so once they make their steps, it'll be harder to go back, especially with women being quite adamant about their hopes for greater equality. Also if the state would like to maintain their population growth they will need to provide jobs for women who are now using emigration as a plausible option to take their talents elsewhere.
ReplyDelete1. I have read articles previously about the surprisingly high number of educated women in Iran, but I hadn't thought of the result. The fact that this education is going unrecognized in the society causes me to still view it as oppressive.
ReplyDeleteThis is a good point. We tend to think of education as opportunity providing greater freedom and more rights, but if they aren't able to use that education, then is it really an indication of greater freedom/rights? }
Delete1. For a very long time, I thought that women in Iran (the Middle East in general) have always been treated as nothing more than property. There are still many steps to take, but they took the first one. The fact that Iran's women has more education than men was also impressive to me.
ReplyDelete2. Depending on the duration and reaction to Rouhani's rule, this may or may not be a long term social and economic change for women. There are other factors that need to be considered, including the religious atmosphere of the country as well as ideas held by religious conservatives. Besides this, Rouhani needs to offer good incentives for women to enter the Iranian job market rather than work abroad. Ultimately Rouhani is offering a chance, and the effects of this opportunity are dependent on whether or not the proper steps are taken by women in the time they are given.
ReplyDelete1) This does change my view of the female role in Iran. Although their is inequality, like id expected, women are surprisingly more active within politics and pursuing higher education. Contrary to my preconceived notions woman to some extent have a voice which can possibly lend to reform and progress of the female status in Iran. Even though their mobility, is halted by the Iranian men, preventing them from receiving the jobs they are more than qualified for they still have the ability to speak out and push for change.
ReplyDelete1. Not necessarily different, but the article does focus on some aspects that are often overlooked by the media portrayal of Muslim women. Educated, intelligent, and willing to work are all things that are often not aligned with the stereotypical image of domestic, and conserved women (although there's nothing wrong with either or both.) The disparity in the job market between men and women reaffirms my belief that more job opportunities are crucial to the development of Iran's economy.
ReplyDelete2. I think that with Rouhani now in power, women can slowly but surely achieve gender equality and this can be the first step to a permanent change. The article says that under the previous president, any launch of activist group would be impossible but with the less conservative Rouhani, more social issues can be worked out, such as the fight for gender equality. Although Rouhani's bigger concerns are the economy and population, It would be easier for women to have their minds heard because he is more willing for change as the article claims that he is looking to rebuild the economy through education and provide more opportunities for the youth. However, I think that traditional values of conservatism and a predominantly male dominated society would pose a challenge to the progression of women's rights and freedom.
ReplyDelete2. I think that this will be a long term goal, because women have a lot of freedom in some other countries, and it's been increasing in the past few centuries. This is a growing trend, and Iran is going to fall behind socially and economically if it doesn't provide more gender equality. It will be difficult to reverse many years of gender inequality, however, so it will take a very long time. It will happen eventually, especially because women will continue to stand up.
ReplyDelete2. While I would hope that the change is more long term, any return of a more conservative president could cause a reverse in progress, because the society is not ready for that complete change. The apparent brain drain is harmful not just to the societal structure, but the economy if Iran, as giving women education without jobs is similar to a lost investment.
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree that if a more conservative leader were to return, all progress would be lost and everything would return to a more conservative state. That's why I believe if Iran truly wants to change the status on women, the government should try to instill these values of equality in the people. This could take a very long time because these values have been established in the country for a very long time.
DeleteOverall, I think Iran is moving towards progress in giving women more equality and this is greatly aided by their new less conservative president. I think many prominent leaders in the country realize that women have much to offer and their education is going to waste when it could be used helping the state succeed and moving it towards progress. The discrimination in the workforce causes many women to want to emigrate and this leads to a brain drain, which can become more severe as time passes. Men often do not want to allow women in the workplace despite their merit because of their traditional views of women as family caretakers and not lawyers. They also fear that women will steal the already scarce jobs available. It will take time but I think Iran is slowly moving in the right direction.
ReplyDelete2)The fact that the president is categorized as a less conservative president suggests that Rhouhani still promotes conservative ideologies. So with tht said, the actions by this president could be best identified as a necessary step to improve women's role, instead of a temporary achievement.However, in contrast it can also be said that the president after Rhouhani could demote the progress of the rights of women, but with a substantial advocation of increasing women's roles now, it would not be beneficial for future electees to lose votes by taking away was has already been achieved.
ReplyDelete1. The article did not dramatically alter my view partly because I already aware of the fact that Iranian women were taking major strides towards gaining representation in society and also because I am somewhat more sensitive to the preconceived notions people have about women in Muslim societies. Painting the entire Muslim world with one swift brushstroke does not do justice to the varying social trends that the countries making up the region exhibit. However, even I was struck by the statistic demonstrating women as actually overtaking men in education. I think this indicative of a positive trend in which Iranian women are becoming increasingly active in the society and the next logical step in my mind would be to begin expanding their access to jobs.
ReplyDelete2. I would have to agree that Rouhani’s wish to bring women back into the Iranian workforce is a positive step into the future. However, I think this change is a lot more long-term than quickly introducing Iranian woman into the workforce on a whim. This change will take a long time, and since it will take such a long time I believe that it will be a more permanent solution to the problem of gender roles in Iran. While I am optimistic about this change I am concerned with how much pressure is being put on the Iranian women. To me, you can only expect so much out of one person and a person, in this case a woman, only has so much capacity to do any task in her daily life. This is to say that women cannot be expected to increase Iran’s population in a baby boom while trying to earn equal opportunities in the workforce when they are not accustomed to such duality in their style of living.
ReplyDeleteI agree and I sure hope that this is a long term thing because the women need to stay in the country instead of shipping them out to make the economy more diverse and more educated.}
Delete2. It's a possibility, but I haven't seen what I would personally claim to be significant change. I mean, if Rouhani is trying to erase the trend of so many educated Iranians leaving each year, you would think his target audience should the the better educated - the women. Instead, he's letting the health ministry encourage a state-funded baby boom, which I don't think is going to A) increase the country's wealth by spending the state money to support expanding families & B) keep all the young, educated women from leaving to go find work in countries that will actually utilize their knowledge and abilities instead of telling them to have babies. Until the state starts to actually open more jobs to women and utilize their talents, and until the men start to realize that having women in the workplace is not going to kick them out of their current jobs, just allow women to take open positions that they are qualified for, then women are going to continue to face problems in the way of reaching their goals. It can't just be some of the women standing up for what the majority of women want either - they all need to fight for it if they want it. You can't expect to win the game if you only have a couple of players on the field with the rest silently sitting on the bench - it doesn't work in sports and it doesn't work in politics.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Desia. Rouhani has not instituted any tangible policy changes to indicate an push toward increasing role of women increasing the role of women in society. In fact, as you point out, the health ministry policy seems to actually be counter-productive if the goal is indeed to encourage women to become more active. I believe that Rouhani can be seen as a symbol of hope since his election signifies a possible shift in the ideals of the Iranian population. It provides women with an opening but it is not the beginning of a major transformation yet.
Delete1. I didn't know there are a majority of women in Iranian universities and a minority of them in the workforce, showing they are underused in the workplace. I thought Iran was much more conservative, but educating the women gives them the opportunity to try to identify and change traditions in the country. Specifically, their relatively small role in the workforce.
ReplyDeleteThe analysis of how women make up the majority of universities but only 20 percent of the workforce was also something I learned from this article. The preconceived notion that we had in believing that the conservative nature of the country would not even allow as much education for women suggests hat although their roles are limited, there roles are more effective than expected.
Delete2. I feel like Rouhani's actions are not necessarily temporary openings for women. I would like to think that these less conservative steps that he is taking for the country and not ignoring the women is a permanent thing and that women will find their places in the workplace. Obviously, an obstacle of this is the attitudes of the men and the opposing conservative minds of the country. This would make sense sines the men would want to keep a superior status to women and they may feel threatened once the women enter the workplace so they are trying to keep the women out.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I see what you are saying Federico. I guess the fact that men would oppose women in the workforce did come to kind, but I thought of the response as a result of sociocultural norms of the present-day not in terms of women possible stealing jobs. Now that I think of it, women, since they are the more educated group, could end up dominating ceratin career areas.
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ReplyDelete2. I think the new president gives women the opportunity to speak about their role in society, but ultimately the ayatollah determines what is allowed in the country. He is the supreme leader of the country, and in order for long-term change to be achieved, he must go along with it or his role must be lessened.
2) I do not think that President Rouhani is providing long term change. He mentions that he pushes for the economic revival of Iran by way of creating more opportunities for the young, not women. This is feel is a way to keep te activist at bay, persuading them to believe that change for women too will come in the future. Yet the women are still limited in job opportunities by men who do not want to give away jobs that could be provided to other men.
ReplyDelete1. I was not aware that women were allowed to be so educated in Iran, yet I am very confused as to why they are not allowed to use their education. The regime is still oppressive, just in a slightly different way then I expected and had previously thought. Also the women are more outspoken then I would have thought, I had assumed nobody was allowed to disagree with the way the government and society worked in Iran.
ReplyDelete2. I would say that it is still to early to tell if the new president will provide a change for women. He is a newly elected individual with many conservative elements against him. Plus, the Supreme Leader is still technically the final say, and he supports the current system. Until a majority of the population believes in these changes, they are not likely to happen anytime soon. Women will continue to face challenges, but only time will tell how those challenges and potential gains will work out.
ReplyDelete1) This does change my perspective of the role of women in Iran. Before reading I thought that women were unable to do anything like go to college or have any role outside of the home at all. What surprised me the most is that while women are allowed to attend college, they are prevented from holding jobs in Iran, which has caused many of them to leave the country. I think it is a dumb thing to do to women, because it causes half of the educated population to leave the country immediately, which will not help Iran to progress socially or technologically.
ReplyDelete2) I believe that this less conservative President Rouhani will allow more women to achieve more than what they were able to before. I still think it is too early to tell, but I think that if Rouhani can change things gradually in such a way that there is no large conservative reaction, then this will become the first step to a more permanent change. Even if a permanent change is made, there will always be conservative members of the society who will try to prevent women from progressing their role in society. The same thing happened in our own country. Even years after civil rights, there are still pockets in the US where racism can be found.
ReplyDeleteI agree that there should be gradual steps toward reform. Drastic changes would only incite strong opposition rather than encourage support.
Delete2. Although President Rouhani seems to be less conservative in his approach, his presidency has not completely turned away from the traditional ideals of the society that prevent it from embracing equality. For example, I recently read in an article that Rouhani has not fulfilled his promise on increasing freedom of expression. In my opinion, this is indicative of the fact that the diminished conservative rhetoric from the administration does not automatically entail the beginning of permanent, long-term change. Establishment of political freedoms such as the freedom of expression is absolutely necessary for activist women to begin to sow the seeds for establishing a greater role for women in society. One of the obstacles that is holding Iran back from starting to eliminate their conservative practices is the strong political influence of the religious figure Ayatollah Khomeni. His strict interpretation of religion has limited the success of movements toward increasing the role of women. However, Rouhani’s election still does point to a trend toward acceptance of more liberal ideas by the Iranian population and thus, does still potentially provide women in Iran with an opportunity to achieve some of their goals.
ReplyDelete1. Being Iranian (on my dad's side) I didn't really have any pre-conceived notions of Middle Eastern women based on stereotypes because my aunt is pretty successful as a women's rights attorney. I am happily surprised to learn, however, of women's status in education (I knew they were educated but was not aware that they largely outnumbered men in the universities).
ReplyDelete2.
ReplyDeleteEven before the new president I think that women in Iran were making small steps towards gaining more rights. I definitely think that the new president will allow women to go after gaining more rights because Rouhani's less-traditional philosophy will hopefully also make way for a movement away from the restrictions that traditional Iranian culture has placed on women. I definitely think that the quest for women's rights MUST be gradual because the situation deals with a very old culture and it is hard to shake off old habits. I think that this gateway of opportunity for women's rights will be progressive, not temporary, because women are already gaining rights (slowly and over time) and it is currently (in my opinion) working when you consider the rights they had years and years ago up to now.
Women in Iran still face obstacles such as needing their husband's permission to exit the country, which will hopefully change soon.