Aisha Crawford
October 9th, 2009
1:15 pm
In Iran women are highly educated and often hold high positions in governmental offices. More than 60% of university students are female, as are many university professors. They obtained their right to vote and to be in the parliament at least 50 years ago. The current parliament has 13 women officers. And yet despite the cultural, social and historical heritage of Iranian women, the Islamic Republic has imposed discriminatory regulations against them. One of the laws allows men to marry up to four wives and gives him the ability to divorce them when ever he wants to for any reason. However a woman has to have a certain reason why she wants to divorce her husband. Another law that discriminates against women is that men are considered worth more than women, literally. AFter an accident a woman will always receive have of what a man would receive. In court cases men recieve twice as much of a judgement than that of a woman. Also woemen have to receive their husbands permission to work outside the home, travel, or leave the country as if they are children under him.
Women are outraged that they have come so far to still be held back in the law. Since these women do not really have a leader of this cause. They have chosen to protest these laws by creating a collection of signatures. The signatures are from Iranian men and women to demonstrate their opposition to the discriminatory laws.This campaign is a peaceful protest which, unfortunately, the Iranian government has refused to tolerate. More than 50 campaigners have been prosecuted and some deprived of basic social rights, such as being able to travel freely or leave the country.These convictions, however, have not dampened the women's determination in their struggle for equality. They will continue their campaign no what it takes
Will women ever be "EQUAL"? It seems that no matter how far they come and overcome things, they are always set to the back burner of men. I find it so odd that Iran has women in parliament but will not allow them to leave the country with out the "permission" of their husband. It seems as if it is a never ending fight for equality, throughout the world. Once again, I know the United States is not perfect, but i am glad that we do not have issues like this, where women are prohibited by law to work with out the permission of their husband. I know that i would probably be single for ever if I was Iranian because I can not see my self trying to beg my husband for priveleges that are rightfully mine!
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