As an Iranian woman who spent half of my life between revolution and war I have observed a massive transformation of Iranian women during last four decades. Segregation in massive scale came to Iran as a culture of the fundamentalist-theocratic dictatorship by arrival of the Islamic Republic of Iran in 1979. The transformation happened so quickly that girls from grade 1 had to cover from head to toe by dark uniforms and black hijab. Women have been the biggest target of humiliation by theocratic-dictatorship regime from very first days of Revolution. Women with all limitation did not stop going to university and work in public and private sectors. 60% of females could take seats in universities and it was not anticipated based on the new regressive culture. The second decade of the revolution; women started to transform their physical body to oppose the mandatory hijab and because of that Iran turned to the biggest consumer of nasal surgery in the world. Cosmetic surgery, extreme diet and exotic fashion have become a trend in Iran especially among girls and women. TV State and all state owned media have been promoting child marriage for young girls and TV State keeps bringing clergymen who provoke public against women’s “moderate” clothing. Comparing women whose hijab are not restricted with objects have become a trend in TV State by fundamentalism clergymen. Friday Prayer Imams play a big role in provoking the public against progressive women. Acid throwing on women’s face and body have been widespread due to “lectures” of some clergymen who agitate brainwashed males to take action against women in public. When half of a country’s population suffers from lack of safety, disrespect and humiliation; the rest of society could not enjoy their life. Iranian women and men need to work together to save themselves from the theocratic-dictatorship regime.
Mansoureh Nasserchian Soroor
