With the rise and fall of new leaders in Iran, the treatment of women defines a spectrum: at some times, their basic human rights were being violated, and yet, during others, some women represented the modernity in the world.
It was during Reza Shah's reign as King of Iran from 1925 to 1941, and during Mohammed Reza Shah Pahlavi's reign from 1941 through 1979 that rights of women first began to modernize. They tried, rather unsuccessfully, to bring Iran into the 20th century.
The Unveiling
In 1936, Iranian women were banned from wearing the veil, which covered a woman's hair.
The change in appearance for Iran's women was meant to show Iran's moving into the modern times more for outsiders than for Iran's own people. Western people had defined Iran and the rest of Persia as a place of oppression, and cruel to women. Reza Shah was trying to break the mold of the stereotypical oppressed Iranian women. Indeed, most of the West praised the law and started to consider Iran as slightly more Western.
The views on this were split. Professional women believed that it was a freedom from oppression, because the veil, to them, symbolized backwardness and subjugation. But there were another large group of women who believed that, in contrast to the professional women's views, the chador was not a dorm of oppression but protection. Older women thought it unthinkable to go without the veil, for being unveiled in public was equal to nudity. These group of women refused to go outside without their veil, and their relatives had to run errands instead of them.
Many people did not accept the unveiling law, and so after the Shah left in 1941, most women re-veiled, both because of social pressures and because they didn't like the law in the first place.
Why did Iranian women reject the unveiling?
This negative attitude towards the unveiling deserves to be explained. While one's first impression might be that Iranian women did not go without the veil because they were so used to being oppressed, this was really not the case.
Muslim women wear the hijab/Veil not out of oppression, but out of devotion to Allah. They worship him as their eternal God, and it is out of pure love for him that they wear the hijab. The hijab is not meant to hinder them in life. It is worn only out of modesty, and pride.
In fact, the Quaran says for both men and women to behave modestly:
In 1936, Iranian women were banned from wearing the veil, which covered a woman's hair.
The change in appearance for Iran's women was meant to show Iran's moving into the modern times more for outsiders than for Iran's own people. Western people had defined Iran and the rest of Persia as a place of oppression, and cruel to women. Reza Shah was trying to break the mold of the stereotypical oppressed Iranian women. Indeed, most of the West praised the law and started to consider Iran as slightly more Western.
The views on this were split. Professional women believed that it was a freedom from oppression, because the veil, to them, symbolized backwardness and subjugation. But there were another large group of women who believed that, in contrast to the professional women's views, the chador was not a dorm of oppression but protection. Older women thought it unthinkable to go without the veil, for being unveiled in public was equal to nudity. These group of women refused to go outside without their veil, and their relatives had to run errands instead of them.
Many people did not accept the unveiling law, and so after the Shah left in 1941, most women re-veiled, both because of social pressures and because they didn't like the law in the first place.
Why did Iranian women reject the unveiling?
This negative attitude towards the unveiling deserves to be explained. While one's first impression might be that Iranian women did not go without the veil because they were so used to being oppressed, this was really not the case.
Muslim women wear the hijab/Veil not out of oppression, but out of devotion to Allah. They worship him as their eternal God, and it is out of pure love for him that they wear the hijab. The hijab is not meant to hinder them in life. It is worn only out of modesty, and pride.
In fact, the Quaran says for both men and women to behave modestly:
Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that will make for greater purity for them; and Allah is well acquainted with all that they do. And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; and that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what must ordinarily appear thereof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands…. (Quran 24:30-31) |
.O Prophet, tell your wives and daughters and the believing women to draw their outer garments around them (when they go out or are among men). That is better in order that they may be known (to be Muslims) and not annoyed…. (Qur.an 33:59). |
Many women think of going out without the hijab as going out without modesty, without showing their devotion to Allah.
"To me hijab is a gift from Allah. It gives me the opportunity to become closer to Allah. " In fact, wearing the hijab is a symbol to women that they should never have to change themselves for men, or anybody else. In essence, the hijab shows modesty for the Iranian women, and makes sure that men judge a women not on her looks, but on her personality. It is not the case that men do not allow women to dress fashionably. In fact, at home, with female friends and family, women dress in fashionable and often daring ways! |
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The Family Protection Acts of 1967
Through the FPA, the government now began regulating the functionality of Iranian families. All family issues were now decided through court, not through personal matters.
Before, the minimum marriage age of a woman was 15. The FPA raised the minimum age to 20 years old, but this rule did not have much effect, especially since it was not enforced, particularly in rural areas.
The FPA affected the work force as well. Before, a husband could forbid his wife from working if he thought it would hurt his reputation. Under the new set of rules, a women could say the same thing. As usual, the law ended up still favoring the men. If the courts thought that the man not working would hurt the family income, the man could keep working.
The FPA also limited polygamy, or the practice of having many spouses at one time. Under Islamic Law, a man can have four wives, as long as he is able to treat them all equally. Under the new FPA regulations, a man could not have more than one wife without the permission of the court and the first wife. (The only exception to this rule was when the woman could not fill her "wifely duties", which were considered to be child birth and sexual relations). As many other parts of the FPA, this rule was not effective. Obtaining a wife's permission could be avoided, and the courts were often not told about second marriages.
The process of divorce also changed. Under Koranic Law, a man could divorce his wife without her consent. Under the new set of rules, women could apply for divorce as well. The five main reasons for divorce were: imprisonment, addiction, remarriage without permission, abandonment, and a court decision that might hurt the family.
Through the FPA, the government now began regulating the functionality of Iranian families. All family issues were now decided through court, not through personal matters.
Before, the minimum marriage age of a woman was 15. The FPA raised the minimum age to 20 years old, but this rule did not have much effect, especially since it was not enforced, particularly in rural areas.
The FPA affected the work force as well. Before, a husband could forbid his wife from working if he thought it would hurt his reputation. Under the new set of rules, a women could say the same thing. As usual, the law ended up still favoring the men. If the courts thought that the man not working would hurt the family income, the man could keep working.
The FPA also limited polygamy, or the practice of having many spouses at one time. Under Islamic Law, a man can have four wives, as long as he is able to treat them all equally. Under the new FPA regulations, a man could not have more than one wife without the permission of the court and the first wife. (The only exception to this rule was when the woman could not fill her "wifely duties", which were considered to be child birth and sexual relations). As many other parts of the FPA, this rule was not effective. Obtaining a wife's permission could be avoided, and the courts were often not told about second marriages.
The process of divorce also changed. Under Koranic Law, a man could divorce his wife without her consent. Under the new set of rules, women could apply for divorce as well. The five main reasons for divorce were: imprisonment, addiction, remarriage without permission, abandonment, and a court decision that might hurt the family.
Owing primarily to financial and social dependency, the first wife often feels that she has no choice but to consent. Through various threats and pressures, the husband often gets his way. The worst threat is often that he will divorce her to marry the other, and few women want to be divorced, left unsupported, and suffer the resulting social stigma.- Behnaz Pakizegi
The Shah's System of Rule Making
If you notice, the Shah was very careful about what laws he made. He was extremely careful not to given women rights that men did not have, as to not anger the public. Laws were only altered within the confinements of Islamic Law.
If you notice, the Shah was very careful about what laws he made. He was extremely careful not to given women rights that men did not have, as to not anger the public. Laws were only altered within the confinements of Islamic Law.
Education for Women
Women wanted more influence in society. One of the most obvious ways to achieve this was through their education. Many Iranian women followed the cry of British women: that "an educated women means an educated mother who creates an educated nation of patriots" Reza Shah helped women's education by creating a Ministry. Education for girls became free, and Tehran University (1936) admitted both men and women. 1/3 of University students were female. Year Number of Female Students 1910 167 1929 11,489 1933 14,000 |
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Summary: Gains of Women during the Shah Era
- Education for girls was free
- Tehran University (1936) admitted both men and women
- 1963- women got right to vote and run for parliament
- Family Protection Act
- Petition for Divorce
- gain child custody
- Marriage age for girls raised
- men needed wife’s permission for second wife
- Right before Iran’s revolution, 22 women in parliament, 333 women in elected local councils
- ⅓ of university kids were girls
- 2 million women in work force