Iranian Women still fighting 30 years later!

Kenya Satchell
February 10, 2009
1:00 AM

The Islamic Revolution was in 1979. At that time men and women were protesting together to topple Iran’s Monarchy. Thirty years later the women are back and this time to gain more rights. In the article, the exhibition “Scissors, Paper, Rock” by Jinoos Taghizadeh was controversial. She had a solo from a female vocalist which was considered to be a “NO, NO” in Iran. The Islamic Republic wants to keep women covered with the long dresses and headscarves, not knowing that this style of dress is actually helping women achieve a greater presence in public life. Obviously the rights of men and women are not on the same playing field, but I think the women may be getting closer. More than sixty percent of Iranian women are university entrants, with many chasing professions like teaching, medicine and engineering. There are female taxi drivers and even managers of male athletes. Some women are prevented from working by their husbands, and the legal system feels women are only worth half of what a man is worth! A man can also divorce his wife for any reason, but in order for a woman to want a divorce she has to prove the husband guilty of something significant. Men are allowed to have as many as four wives, but they have to make sure it’s ok with the first or “head” wife.
I believe these women are fighting for their rights everyday and they should continue to fight until they get the results they are looking for. True, the US is more advanced than they are, but there was a point where women didn’t have freedoms here too. We overcame those obstacles and it seems they are achieving great things as well. I don’t think some men or even society as a whole will ever view women as being equal to men, but I would have never considered myself or the women of this world to be “half” of a man! I know the US has issues and things that it needs to improve, but I’m glad I’m here and not in Iran because I don’t know if I would be able to survive!

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