Gender+Expectations+In+Iran+Through+The+American+Perspective+by+Emma+Beddoe


 * NEW TITLE: CHALLENGING ROLES FOR WOMEN IN IRAN BY EMMA BEDDOE **

In Iran, segregation between genders has been an ongoing and constant issue. As a theocracy, the government's laws are based on the rules of the Islamic religion. This society that Iran has created for its people has caused women and men to play individual roles. Gender can be the one factor that determines what occupations you can achieve, how successful you can become, what you are required to wear, and your rights. There is a boundary between male and female in Iran and staying within these lines are required. Impeding these boundaries is frowned upon, but it can be a way of freedom and survival in a country like Iran. It is true that Muslim women, like women all over the world, have struggled against inequality and restrictive practices in education, workforce participation, and family roles (Lewis).

As the Islamic Revolution began to take over, 1979 became the year that it was mandatory for women to wear the veil. The government affirmed that it was only to protect women and make them civil. Some disagreed and believed that the veil made women more exposed. Some didn't disagree with the Islamic religion but instead disagreed with the reasons behind being forced to practice the Islamic religion and wearing the veil. Demonstrations broke out and became one of the main ways women fought for themselves and their rights. In //Persepolis// by Marjane Satrapi, Marji, a ten year old girl living in the midst of the revolution, protested against the veils along with her mother. They felt that wearing the veil took away their freedom of choice as well as respect from the government. Protesting was how women defended their rights, yet they often ended in violence.

One of the roles that men were assigned to was overall power. Man had custody over his children and authority over the women of the household, which could be his wife or maid. His major arena of power until well into middle age is the control of his wife (Drew). Men basically owned their wives which pushed the female potential and social class to a lower standard. But, as Iran slowly progresses towards feminism, women have been protesting for equal rights between male and female. They have started to play a role in political activities which has begun to favor them in terms of respect and recognition. The main issue is equality between women and men when it comes to employment. For the same amount of work, men are paid more than women. The push to reduce working hours for women comes with many disadvantages. “Currently, employers are willing to hire women because they work very diligently, and the likelihood of their causing any trouble or making demands is less than that of male workers. In addition, because female workers earn much less than their male counterparts, they have a better chance of being hired by employers. However, if the legislation to reduce working hours for female employees passes the parliament, employers would be less inclined to hire them because doing so would no longer be economically advantageous" (Iranian Women Labor Woes). Being constantly compared to the male population of Iran, women suffer from discrimination. They are forced to tolerate with the fact that they are more likely to be laid off and face unemployment. Eventually, the injustice women undergo pressures them to quit their jobs because of unfair and unsafe conditions.

The movement of women grow and their roles alter as Iran shifts through influence. From protests and demonstrations to fighting for equality and employment, the progress between male and female in Iran is slow but sure. The roles between male and female are improving between the individual people of Iran but not between the government and its people. Woman still falls below man and the society requires the people to maintain that value. Gender defines us on the outside but what is on the inside should be what determines our abilities to choose what to wear and what careers we pursue in.



Sources:

[|__www2.hu-berlin.de/sexology/IES/iran.html__] (Drew)

[] (Lewis)

__http://iranlaborreport.com/?p=895__ (Iranian Women Labor Woes)


 * Satrapi, Marjane. Persepolis. New York**, **United States: Pantheon books, 2003. (Translation Copyright)**