Women's Rights in Iran

Despite having faced cultural and legal discrimination, women in Iran have managed to make significant leaps in their journey towards gender equality. Today in Iran, women have the ability to work, drive, play sports and get an education.  But what is missing from the picture are the many rights that they don't have! Believe it or not, Iranian women can neither travel without a male guardian or convey their citizenship to their children.

Women gaining the right to an equal education came from one of the most unconvincing arguments that educating women would "help raise better sons for their country." Fortunately their pleas were smart and manipulated the authorities to give in. In 1936, the enrollment of 12 women, marked the entry of women into university education. As of today, women account for well over half of university students in Iran. This is devastating to many of the Iranian conservative groups who claim that education for women could cause "social disparity and economic and cultural imbalances between men and women."

Today in Iran, women are allowed to dress as the please in private- among men they know- but must follow a modest dress code while in public. A modest dress code usually includes hijab. If you recall from the Women's Rights in Saudi Arabia post, hijab literally means a "screen," or "curtain," and in most Middle Eastern countries refers to a veil that covers the head and chest. In Iran, hijab includes the choice of chador or roopoosh and a veil. Chador is a "large piece of cloth that is wrapped around the head and upper body, leaving only the face exposed" and the Roopoosh is " a long jacket type cover worn over clothes,"-Persian Corner.

In order to get a passport, Iranian women need a male citizen's permission. After the acquisition of a passport, a woman can travel without the consent or accompaniment of a male citizen.

On the upside of things, women in Iran are allowed to play sports, a rare sight in Islamic countries. 2,500 years ago, women contributed to the creation of the game of polo, now an extremely popular sport. Today in Iranian schools, sports are offered to both boys and girls. They include soccer, taekwondo, chess, and track and field events. Unfortunately, despite the fact that women are allowed to participate in sports, if a competition's audience includes unknown males, their participation will be denied. In addition, there may only be female coaches for female athletes. The Iranian women's volleyball team, previously one of the best, could not compete as there was a lack of female coaches.