The Women of Islam in Iran: Feelings and Perceptions

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The Women of Islam in IranFeelings and
Perceptions

• Treat your women well, and be kind to them
• Prophet Mohammad

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Pre-Iranian Revolution

• 1941-Mohammad Reza Shah comes to power
• Shah made by powerful Europeans who wanted to
  control oil industry
• Encouraged Europeans ideas like
• Education for women
• Hijab not required

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Post-Iranian Revolution

• Islamic Fundamentalist Ayatollah Ruhollah
  Khomeini comes to power
• Discourages any act that is un-Islamic or Western
• Passes laws oppressing women
• Still celebrated today after his death

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Research Question

• Do the women of Iran with some form of
  post-secondary education perceive their current
  state as
• Oppressive
• Freedom
• Neither

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Forbidden Knowledge

• Do they know it is oppression?
• Do they know it is freedom?
• Knowledge withheld
• Education of the Koran

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Thesis

• Feelings and perceptions of
• Iranian Women who
• Have some form of secondary education
• Differing political views
• Differing socioeconomic status
• Relation to Islam

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Womens Movements

• Beginnings in the 1900s
• Constitutional Revolution
• Law passed where women are not considered
  citizens
• European Influence

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Womens Movements cont.

• Influenced by
• European contact with Iranian intellectuals
• Western women achieving rights to vote
• Womens movements in Turkey and Egypt

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Western Movements cont.

• Reza Shah 1925-1941
• Discouraged anti-patriarchal movements
• Encouraged focus on education
• Had women take of their veils in 1936

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Womens Movements cont.

• Taking off the veil
• Many women protested against the Westernization
• Taking off is against Islamic ethics

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Education

• Intentions
• Get women out of politics
• Focus on personal welfare

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Education cont.

• Post-Iranian Revolution
• Segregation between men and women
• Not allowed to participate

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The Veil

• Put it on to protest Western Ideals
• Take it off to oppose Islamic Fundamentalists

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The Veil cont.

• Westerners view as
• Oppressive
• Unnecessary

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The Veil cont.

• First Uses
• By Prophet Mohammads wives for
• Respect
• Acknowledgement
• Honor

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The Veil cont.

• Now Used
• Symbol of respect
• Symbol of honor
• Freedom from materialism

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Sexuality

• Men
• Viewed as sexual animals
• Sexual desires are restricted

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Sexuality cont.

• Women
• Submissive gender
• Reproducers
• Used for pleasure

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Sexuality cont.

• Past, Present and Future
• Family chooses mates
• Mates chose each other

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Feelings and Perceptions

• Iran
• Women know men like them covered
• Veils are expensive and should be provided by the
  government
• Western women enslaved by fashion

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Feelings and Perceptions cont.

• Afghanistan
• The overtly religious are most corrupt
• Feelings of oppression
• Women seen in any Western form is Un-Islamic
• Support system of the family

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Conclusions

• Women need to educate themselves on
• The Koran
• The laws of their country