Read My Lips

Women have a problem with the Islamic Republic as a whole

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Read My Lips
by Sevda Zenjanli
08-May-2011
 

While the Iranian authorities have effectively quashed all overt political organization for women’s rights, today women are the most dynamic group in Iranian opposition politics. The feminist critique of the Green Movement is mainly focused on Mousavi’s wife, Zahra Rahnavard, whose name is often mentioned by the international and pro-Mousavi media as representative of Iranian women’s rights movement.

Rahnavard shares a similar political background with her husband: she was a conservative Islamic activist in the anti-Shah movements which led to the Islamic Revolution. Using the pen-name “Zeinab Boroujerdi,” she wrote fifteen books which are mainly about Islam and women. Unlike the multitudes of Iranian women who protested compulsory Islamic veiling on March 8, 1979 in Tehran, she wrote about the necessity of Islamic veiling in her books, such as “The Beauty of Concealment” and “The Message Behind the Muslim Women’s Hijab.”

In contrast with Rahnavard’s views about Islamic hijab, Iranian feminists demand the abolition of mandatory veiling which forces women to cover their head and body in public. For the past 31 years, Iranian women have been subverting these laws in a kind of “fashion resistance.” They have been wearing their headscarves in a way that does not hide their hair. Tight coats, non-traditional clothes, like western jeans, high-heeled shoes and glamorous make-up are the other ways of openly dissenting with mandatory veiling.

Of course, clothing style is not the only sign of Iranian feminists’ difference with Rahnavard and the Green Movement’s espoused ideology. Political discussions and publications of the Iranian opposition groups clearly show the diversity of Iranian society’s social dynamics. Just before March 2011, a popular left-wing student magazine named “Bazr,” published an article calling for the Iranian people to protest the regime on Women’s Day and criticized the leaders of the Green Movement which had started its new wave of protests in February 2011.

The article stated: “We will come to the streets again to show our power of struggle, but not to let our destiny be determined by the leaders of Green Movement who talk about turning back to ‘Khomeini’s Golden Era,’ and ‘applying the Islamic Laws’ which include the compulsory hijab law and which has not given us anything except pain.” In other words, one only needs to look at the status of women under Khomeini to know that Rahnavard’s view of women is not representative of what feminists want.

On the same date, Zahra Rahnavard also published an article in which she criticized the current Iranian laws which permit men to have multiple wives and make divorce so difficult for women, such as the inequality in the amounts of “dieh” (the money which is paid to the victim’s family when a person is murdered) which is much less for women than men, and the inequality of the ages of criminal responsibility under laws, which is 14 years old for boys and 8 for girls. All of these points have been criticized by Iranian feminists before, but had rarely been mentioned by a famous political figure like Rahnavard. However, her approach in this article still falls short of the hopes of Iranian womens’ rights activists and feminists, because she didn’t write a single word about the hijab issue, stoning or other punishments against adultery, which are some of the main problems of today’s women’s movement in Iran.

Considering this difference between the political views of the masses and the leaders of the Green Movement, why did Iranian women support the Green Movement during the protests? To answer this question, it’s important to differentiate between ideological support and the instant support which is caused by mass movements. A big majority of the Iranian women who went to protests and supported the Green Movement and Rahnavard don’t share the same approach with her about women’s issues. Many of them are young women who didn’t see or don’t remember Khomeini’s and Mousavi’s era (1981-89) which makes them nearly unable to criticize the Green Movement because of their political past.

Most importantly, many of these people are not involved in politics and don’t have any detailed information about Rahnavard’s books or Mousavi’s political statements. They just see the leaders of Green Movement as a group of brave people who challenge Ahmadinejad. Rahnavard’s ideological supporters are mainly the “Islamic feminists,” who are a small group of women claiming to reinterpret Islam and the Quran and its laws in a “feminist” way. The Islamic Feminists have been accused of legitimizing the current Iranian system by many of Iranian feminist activists and academicians, including H. Moghissi and Hamed Shahidian.

Iranian feminists and other major opposition groups not only have problems with Ahmadinejad and Supreme Leader Khamenei, but with the Islamic Republic and its system as a whole and this is what the Green Movement does not challenge. Since the demands of many Iranian women are much more radical than those of the reformist leaders of the Green Movement, it is not possible to say that Ahmadinejad and Mousavi are the only alternatives of the Iranian society.

AUTHOR
Sevda Zenjanli is the pen name of an Iranian women’s rights activist and student living in exile, who returns to Iran frequently.

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kemalmajor

Coherent Theory Needed

by kemalmajor on

You ask: "should women have the right to have up to 4 husbands? ... Are you willing to help your mother, sisters, and daughters gain these rights?"

To convince people in power to change laws I think at first you need a coherent and presentable theory. Asking for rights on an ad hoc basis likely won't work.

With regard to the government, I think it would help your cause, if a part of your platform was that women could have more rights if they equally served in the military like women do in other countries.

If you can't convince the government - there are few options left.

At that point, the discussion itself becomes metaphysical.


Paykar

Time and Space matter.

by Paykar on

'Here's a different way of asking the questions above: If the politician
you prefer to lead Iran actually came to power, what would his or her
stance be on these issues"

Ostad, please understand these questions will only arise, and therfore, would merit a response; if and when, the feminist movement is able to achieve basic Rights that other woman in most societeis have managed to establish through their struggles in the past 90+ years. We are not there yet.

Do you not see the idiocy in asking, if men could wear lipticks to work, where woman can't in most work-places?

Now , some questions for you:

Should a woman have the right to have equal share of Estate when her father, mother, or husband dies?

Should  polygamy be illegal? If not should women have the right to have up to 4 husbands?

Should a woman be free to decide what to wear?

Should the age of marriage change? 

These do not exist in Iran today. Are you willing to help your mother, sisters, and daughters gain these rights?

 

 


kemalmajor

Unisex Restrooms & Girls with Guns

by kemalmajor on

Actually, there are many Universities in Canada, the EU, and the US that have unisex restrooms. You make a good point. That idea has taken root in some places. And that's exactly my point: People have different conceptions of equality, and sometimes it's hard to predict the outcome of political trends and ideas.

Back to my original point:

I wasn't trying to be "cute" - The fact is that Iran & Iraq fought an 8 year war where 1,000,000 people died. Iran was attacked and its borders and people were in jeopardy. There are many countries that require military duty from women, including Israel, China, Cuba, Peru (and many others).

So my question to Iranian-Feminists is whether their conception of equality includes (1) a willingness to be conscripted into the Iranian military in the same manner men are, and (2) whether they are willing to serve during conflict in the same manner that women in other armies do?

The other questions highlight certain social issues: E.g.,

Are Iranian-feminists willing to take manual labor jobs like welding, construction, plumbing, etc.?

Are Iranian-feminists willing to allow an equal percentage of men to become "stay-at-home-fathers" who look after the kids while they work outside of the home?

Does their conception of equality include the right of men to wear lipstick to work?

Are Iranian-feminists willing to pay a 'mehriye' (dowry) to men when they marry?

It seems that these sorts of issues should be discussed to see where people stand - but I sense a reluctance by anyone to actually substantively give their ideas on these subjects.

Here's a different way of asking the questions above: If the politician you prefer to lead Iran actually came to power, what would his or her stance be on these issues?


Paykar

Posing these particular

by Paykar on

Posing these particular questions reveal that you are not really aware of what Iranian Feminists are up against and what they are fighting for in this stage.
I guess your questions are cute in the same tradition of cuteness laid down by Phyllis Schlafley* and whole host of conservatives/pro corporatism in  U.S.

I take your word that these do not reflect your opinions, so please permit me to inquire about your opinion(s) on Feminism in Iran under the Islamic Republic.

*Schlafly had argued that the equal rights amendment would lead to unisex restrooms.


Ari Siletz

kemalmajor

by Ari Siletz on

Glad you didn't mean what you wrote; " please just answer 'yes' or 'no.')"

As for tomorrow's dinner, crystal ball says chicken.


kemalmajor

Ari "The Psychic" - sell me your crystal ball

by kemalmajor on

Ari,

You write: "When you ask a question and accept no infomation other than a yes/no answer ... you have discredited yourself." You will note that in my questions I wrote: "Why or why not?" -- which means 'please give reasons.' So, what you write is not entirely accurate or true.

Moreover, you're attacking me as a person -- I only asked questions; if you don't want to answer questions -- just say 'I don't want to answer.' Nobody is forcing you.

Though you seem to have a crystal ball for predicting my motives, the truth is that when you ask 2 people their stance on equality sometimes you get 3 opinions - I'm only trying to determine where people generally stand on these issues; I didn't prohibit anyone from giving their opinions. You proved that by giving your opinion. Don't you realize the irony of what you wrote?

You further write "you attempt to position the writer for an attack" -- the whole point of Free Speech is to be able to challenge ideas; if you believe in Free Speech you have to believe that ideas are open to challenge.

Ari, I haven't decided what I am having for dinner tomorrow -- since you can read my mind please tell me so I don't have to waste time about what to buy at the super market.


Ari Siletz

kemalmajor

by Ari Siletz on

An observation here. When you ask a question and accept no infomation other than a yes/no answer, it suggests your question is not a request for information but a polemic attempt to position the writer for an attack. Judging by the quality of the writing I am sure the author is also aware of this, but may decline to let you know that you have flushed yourself out and discredited your purpose before the argument you wish to start has even begun. 


kemalmajor

Women in Combat

by kemalmajor on

My question to Iranian-Feminists is:

1. In the Iran/Iraq War, more than 1 million people died: Would you be willing to be conscripted into the Iranian army to perform the same duties as men? (Not all men can escape military duty - my question includes that premise - please just answer 'yes' or 'no.')

2. Would you be willing to fight in a battle like the Iran/Iraq war?
(Here's a film everyone should watch: //www.youtube.com/watch?v =UeY05iS5iv0&feature=player_em bedded#at=2891 )

3. Would you be willing to take fewer desk jobs and take more manual labor jobs (like construction work / plumbing / welding, etc.)?

4. Are you okay with the idea of an equal percentage of men becoming "stay-at-home fathers" that take care of the kids - while wives work?

5. Should men also be allowed to wear makeup at the office? Why or why not?

[Remember: These are only questions - they don't reflect my opinions.]


Azadeh Azad

Good article

by Azadeh Azad on

"Islamic feminism" is an oxymoron, as you know, and an attempt by a minority of socio-economically priviledged women inside the country to co-opt feminism.

We have equally priviledged women outside of the country who find it "chic" to defend Islam or be guardians of patriarchy and its ugly institutions. Ignorant of the long and arduous struggles by the Western feminists, these spoiled women imagine that their present rights and freedoms have been offered to them by their "sugar-daddy" as a birthday present :-)

Cheers,

Azadeh


Ari Siletz

Thank you!

by Ari Siletz on

Please follow up with more articles detailing the various aspects of women's right activism in Iran, specifically to map out areas of unity, and disagreement across classes, urban/rural, blue/white collar differences, hierarchy (if any) of organizations, specific news incidents of interest, and currently intense topics of discussion.