Gender, Religion and the State in Iran

International Perspectives on Gender

Week 14

Structure of lecture Introduction and Context Gender and State in Iran up to 1979 The Iranian Revolution Gender and State in Islamic Iran Iranian Feminisms post-Revolution Video: A Conversation with Professor Leila

Ahmed Variability and the need for Specificity

Context: Where is Iran?

18th largest country in worldAncient PersiaUrban settlement from 4,000 BC

Gender and State: 1920s to 1970s Rule of Shahs, hereditary monarchs

Emphasis on modernity and progress, along European lines

Women’s participation in public sphere increased ‘Unveiling’ of women from 1934 1963 – Iranian women got the vote Marriage age increased, fertility rate declined Women symbolised the modernity of the nation

Defaced billboard, Jerusalem

Iranian Women: Symbols of Modernity

1968: Female NuclearPhysics PhD students,

Iranian Students pre-1979

Iranian Women’s Movement Iranian Women’s Social Movement for Women’s Rights (1910-1933), campaigned for women’s education

1959 High Council of Women’s in Iran formed, focussed on women’s suffrage

1966 The Women’s Organization of Iran formed, in 1975 won Family Protection Law

MC women opened up professional jobs, 1st female cabinet minister in 1968

Differences between women important Women’s movements tolerated where fitted state agenda,

little space for autonomous women’s movements  From 1960s women symbolised the modernity of the Shah

Westernization Coup orchestrated by US and UK, 19 August 1953, to

secure interests of Anglo-Iranian Oil Company (now BP) Overthrew PM Mohammed Mosaddegh Reinstated absolute rule of Shah US supplied arms to Shah in 1970s

Shah and Shahbanou meeting US President Jimmy Carter and 1st Lady, Washington, 1977

1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran Shah overthrown and Islamic fundamentalists came to power under Ayatollah Khomeini

 Women as markers of the new Islamic order  Western values rejected in favour of ‘pure’ and

‘authentic’ Islamic values  Gender differences assumed

Ayatollah Khomeini1902-1989

Westoxification Saving women from ‘westoxification’ The symbolic MC urban woman – ‘excessive,

loose’, unveiled Responsible for destroying the ‘real’ Iranian

nation – a tool of Western imperialism Left-wing and nationalist as well as religious

groups lamented ‘Tehrani ladies’

Compulsory Hijab for Women The ‘answer’ is for women to take up their shield, hijab, once more

Ayatollah announced compulsory hijab – had already been adopted by many women supporters but was also opposed by many others

Women removed from public sphere, segregated

Iranian women opposing compulsory hijab Iranian women waiting to vote

Iranian Feminism Post-1979 Over time Iranian women began regaining key rights in the public sphere

- shortage of men

- Iranian feminists making claims on basis of Qur’an

‘Bad hijab’ ‘Secular oriented feminists’ argue that religion and state must be separated in Iran if women are to achieve equality Not likely at present

Women equal Men

Gender Scripts for Iranian Men Haremi: what has Revolution meant for men and masculinities?

State is hypermasculine – exaggerating strength, discipline, self-reliance

Mullahs (religious clerics): pious, strict, unemotional, eradicating Shah’s corrupt, soft rule, coded feminine, policing borders of Islamic practice

Martyrs: young, unmarried men, fearless in battle against Islam’s enemies, protecting its women, expecting to die bringing honour to family and perpetual blessings to themselves

Ordinary men: patriarchal power within household reinforced but also constructed by the state as sexually out of control, requiring surveillance and coercion. Required to die in war and having poorer health outcomes.

Power Struggles in Iran 1997: moderate Mohammad Khatami elected President and

era of modest reforms follows ‘Religious-oriented feminists’ in government sought

progressive legislation Guardian Council used veto 2005: ultra-conservative Mahmūd Ahmadinejâdm elected

President and clamps-down: hospitals refusing women entry unless fully covered; public hanging or stoning to death of women 

2009: Ahmadinejâdm re-elected President amidst widespread support for Mir Hussein Mousavi

Claims of election rigging and widespread demonstrations 2013: Hassan Rouhani elected President 

Mohammad Khatami President 1997-2005

Mahmūd AhmadinejâdmPresident2005- 2013

Hassan RouhaniPresident 2013-

Ayatollah AlliKhamenei, Supreme Leader, 1989-

Interview with Prof Leila Ahmed1. List all examples of interpretations of Islamic doctrine that

are oppressive to women

2. How does Ahmed explain interpretations of the Koranic text which are oppressive to women?

3. Can Muslim women be feminists, according to Ahmed?

4. How does Ahmed explain the popularity of the veil for women? 

5. What rights did Islam give women historically?

6. How does Ahmed explain the popularity of Islam today?

7. How do you think Ahmed herself relates to Islam?

Key Gender (In)Equality Indicators% Pop. with at least Maternal Mortality % married women % economically Women’s share

Secondary education Rate (per 100,000 using contraceptive active aged Parliamentary(2006-2010) live births) (2000-2008) 15+ (2009) seats (2011)

Female Male (2008) Female Male

Egypt 43.4 59.3 82 58 22 75 13

Indonesia 36 46.8 24 57 52 86 18

Iran 62.1 69.1 30 59 32 73 3

Morocco 20.1 36.3 110 52 26 80 7

Sudan 12.8 18.2 750 6 31 74 24

Turkey 26.7 42.4 23 43 24 70 9

Sources: Progress of the World’s Women 2011-12, http://progress.unwomen.org/; Human Development Report 2013, http://www.undp.org/content/dam/undp/library/corporate/HDR/2013GlobalHDR/English/HDR2013%20Report%20English.pdf