Women in Iran now live in two extremes. You can decide that he lives quite comfortably: he is allowed to work in his speci alty, drive a car, freely visit public places and play sports. But on the other hand, it seems that being a Persian woman is completely unbearable. The truth is actually somewhere in between.
Islamic dress code
How do women dress in Iran? Traditional Islamic clothing is a hijab that hides the figure, wrists and neck, or a veil - a light cover that covers the entire body of a woman from head to toe. Only the face, hands and legs below the ankles can be left uncovered. All Islamic girls (from the age of nine), girls and women are required to wear such clothes.
There are strict rules about wearing clothes for women in Iran. But what is interesting: the requirement to wear clothes that hide the outlines of the figure is not always explained by religious norms, more often it is due to cultural characteristics. For example, in the Middle East, female seclusion was prevalent even before the birth of Islam. So the traditionsupported by local moral and ethical standards.
Modern women in Iran do not always wear head-to-toe figure-hugging clothing, although this is desirable. In official institutions, for example, it is customary to appear only in this form. They even write on the door: Islamic dress code required (“Islamic dress code required”). But the less formal a woman visits, the looser her dress code can be. For example, a waitress in a café might wear a headscarf instead of a veil.
Women in Iran (see photo of representatives of this country in the review) prefer gloomy tones, and ideally clothes should be black in general. Many young Iranians are much more free about traditional norms. Girls follow the formal rules: they cover their heads and necks, their arms above the elbow, their legs to the ankles. Wearing the hijab became mandatory in the late seventies (after the Islamic Revolution). Walking with bare head is not allowed even for tourists.
Iranian women are very fond of bright makeup, because the face is almost the only thing that is allowed to be shown. Often blonde hair peeks out from under the scarf - in Iran it is very fashionable to dye your hair blonde. Girls are massively dissatisfied with their nose. Plastic surgery used to be done from the age of 25, and now even from the age of 18. The medicine here is very good, so surgeons come even from other countries. But Iranian men believe that not all local women need a nose job, but the fair sex themselves run to the surgeon whenas soon as possible, and after the operation they wear a band-aid for a long time to show that they have now gained access to a clan of beautiful people.
Features of marriage
Women's rights in Iran (as well as the institution of family and marriage) are regulated by Sharia. The marriageable age is set for women - 13 years, for men - 15 years. Until 2002, earlier marriages were also encouraged: at the age of 9 for women, at 14 for men. According to Muslim law, marriage at such an early age prevents sexual relations outside of marriage, for which severe punishments are provided (up to execution).
Spouses must be of the same religion. This restriction does not apply only to the so-called temporary marriage. In general, there are two types of marriage in Iran: permanent and temporary. Temporary is usually concluded for a specific period, although it may be indefinite. The form of such a marriage allows a man to take several wives at once (up to four), but with the condition that the spouse must be able to adequately support them all. A woman in Iran can enter into only one temporary marriage in one period. Most often, men make out mistresses as temporary wives, because sexual relations outside of marriage are prohibited. At the same time, all children (both from temporary and permanent spouses) in the event of a divorce remain with their father. There are no female judges in the country, so the law is always on the side of the man.
The position of a woman in Iran in the matter of marriage gives at least some rights. So, a man has the right to take a new wife only after the consent of the first. If the woman does not agree, then the spouse can remarry only if he proves that the first wife does not suit him in any way (housekeeping, absence of children, intimate relationships). True, for a long time at the government level there have been ideas to oblige a woman to unconditionally accept her husband's decision about other marriages.
In case of divorce, the man pays the ransom. The specific amount is negotiated by the newlyweds even before the official conclusion of the marriage union. True, in the modern world such a scheme has taken root poorly. Self-serving women are deliberately bred to get rich. Therefore, the law introduced a restriction. Today, the maximum amount of compensation for divorce is 40 thousand euros.
Family life and responsibilities
A woman only voluntarily marries. If the union was concluded without her consent, the young Iranian may demand its annulment. Before marriage, the future spouse receives a pre-wedding gift in accordance with the material and social standards of her family. The gift becomes the property of the woman, not her family, a guarantee of economic security. In a divorce, the gift remains with her.
The main duty of a woman in Iran is to give the state a he althy member of society and to educate him properly. This obliges the husband to provide for the family financially, as well as to give his wife money for expenses so that she can give birth and raise children in comfortable conditions.
Only a man can file for divorce in Iran, after the children remain only with him. A man may not explain why he wants to terminatemarriage. A woman can file for divorce only if there are serious reasons: if this right was stipulated in the marriage contract, in case of abuse, drug addiction or alcoholism of the spouse, if the husband does not give her financial support or has left the house for a long time.
Islam supports the possibility that divorced spouses can reunite. For example, after a divorce, a woman needs to wait three months before entering into a new marriage. This is necessary in order to make sure that she is not pregnant, and to think about the correctness of the decision. At this time, the former spouse may try to return the location of his wife. A man can divorce twice and then reunite with the same woman again. But if there was a third divorce, then first he must wait for her new marriage with another and a divorce.
University education and work
In Iran, the women whose photos can be seen in the article do not sit at home, they get an education and work. But a good wife must coordinate with her husband her exits from the house and communication with strangers. According to UNESCO, in the field of higher education, the percentage of the weaker sex in engineering speci alties in Iran is the highest in the world. It is explained simply. Men have to work to provide for their families, while women "have nothing to do", so they study.
True, there are artificial obstacles. Women are not allowed to enter some speci alties, while there are quotas for others. And it is also desirable that the girl receive an education in her hometown. For men, there are also restrictions. They arecannot apply to universities to become fashion designers or gynecologists.
Women work as salespeople, educators, teachers, secretaries, but there are professions that are considered exclusively male. The fair sex can even engage in politics. For example, in the 2009 presidential election, there were 42 women candidates (out of a total of 47 candidates). Seventeen people in parliament (6%) are women. Representatives of the fair sex work as lawyers, human rights activists. And about the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to Shirin Ebadi in 2003, there were almost festivities in Iran.
Sports and sports events
Women are not allowed to attend sports matches. This ban is explained by the fact that men swear and shout at such events, and the fair sex cannot hear this. But women can still get to a football match. Ghoncheh Khavami spent several months in prison for trying to sneak into a volleyball match. Officially, she was accused of anti-state propaganda, not of illegally attending the event.
Women in Iran can play sports in normal clothes that are suitable for this occasion. Men are simply not allowed to compete and train the fair sex. But the problem arises when you need to go to international competitions. Religion obliges to dress modestly, to cover the head, arms and legs, which, of course, does not contribute to achieving high results at all.
Motor Women
In Iran (especially in the capital) you can see many female drivers. But in Saudi Arabia, it is illegal for women to drive a car. So Iranian motorists look simply defiant to some. In fact, a loving husband is obliged to give his wife a car. Cities are ill-suited for walking, and in the summer, a woman who has to hide her figure in a black spacious robe at +35 degrees has a very hard time.
Sex segregation
In cafes and restaurants everyone sits together, but there is a separation in buses and the subway. The men usually sit in the back and the women in the front. In the case of elevators, there are no such rules. Often segregation causes problems. For example, an unaccompanied woman can only sit in the “female” part of the bus, so a ticket (even if there are empty seats) cannot be taken to the other part. You can sit in the "male" part if there is an accompanying man. In universities, students of different sexes also study separately.
The role of a man in a woman's life
How do women live in Iran? If there is no worthy man next to a woman, then she does not live very well. From the husband or father (or other male relative) you need to get permission to work and study, coordinate exits from the house and communication with strangers. The norm of life (unless, of course, a woman wants to be left without children and livelihood after a possible divorce) is a marriage contract in Iran.
A man gives hisspouse money for personal expenses: clothes, maintenance of children, hygiene products, food, and so on. His presence allows you to ride in the "male" part of public transport or, for example, freely check into a hotel. In everyday life, by the way, one cannot notice a disrespectful or dismissive attitude towards a woman. All the difficulties lie only in the rules imposed from above.
Attitude towards religion
Today, Iran is more relaxed about religion than before. The life of women in Iran is largely subject to Islamic laws, but many young people are skeptical about the faith, mosques in settlements are empty, and many locals are sympathetic to Zoroastrianism. This is a complex of traditional Persian beliefs, which implies honesty and the inability to take what belongs to another person.
Women's rights in Iran before the revolution
To those who have been to Iran, it seems that women in this Muslim country have come to terms with this state of affairs, and some even assure themselves that they are lucky, i.e. in the same Saudi Arabia, things are much worse. In Iran, women are beautiful and graceful. It is difficult to understand how they manage to maintain their charm in such conditions. But it was not always so. More than two thousand years ago, matriarchy generally reigned in Iran, and in recent history everything has changed dramatically after the Islamic Revolution.
How did women live in Iran before the revolution? One of the advertising posters of the seventies depicts two Iranian women dressed in the fashion of the time. The girls are wearing short dresses with a neckline and bare shoulders. WithFrom the point of view of Sharia, this is completely unacceptable. Under the Pahlavi Shah, the locals behaved and looked in accordance with the Western way of life. Before the revolution in Iran, mini-skirts, flared trousers and rock and roll were in fashion.
The women of Iran before the Islamic Revolution could freely communicate with men, there was no sex segregation in everyday life and strict rules of conduct. The capital of Iran until the end of the seventies was one of the most advanced in the world. Art, literature, film and television industries developed in a multinational country. Men and women could receive education on an equal footing, and Iranians went on vacation to ski resorts near Mount Elbrus.
The photos of Iranian women of that time are especially striking. The difference is really impressive. Before the Islamic Revolution, Iranian women looked the same as in the USSR, Europe or the USA. The fair sex dressed in accordance with fashion, led an active lifestyle and could not depend on anyone. Now on the streets you can only see women completely wrapped in dark clothes.
How do Russian women live in this country
Russian women, who ended up in Iran by the will of fate, settled far from their homeland in different ways. Many of them converted to Islam and are raising children from local men. Others limited themselves to temporary marriage in order to work quietly or study at the university, in order to be both with their husband and free at the same time. But a man has to provide for his family, so Russian women in Iran rarely work outside the home. And those whodecided to still get a job, they must also have time to look after the household and raise children.
Many compatriots talk about a double life. Young girls hide fashionable printed T-shirts and tight trousers under spacious canopies, which they do not forget to show off in front of their friends. Young people, having rented a house on the outskirts, arrange parties with dancing and drinking, fashionable clothes, and most importantly, away from the strict supervision of their elders. From the outside, life in Iran is strict and puritanical, but from the inside it is free and uninhibited, even dry law will not be a hindrance for young people.
Many Iranians are only for regime change, but they are afraid to talk about it out loud. True, there are those who are completely satisfied with everything. The fact is that society now lives, in general, quite comfortably and violates many prohibitions (concerning relationships before marriage and alcohol, for example). Iranians do not show high loy alty to the current system, but want to move towards capitalist values and reduce the influence of religion on society.
Life of a woman in other Muslim countries
Indeed, in some other Muslim countries, such as Saudi Arabia, women live much worse. There, the fair sex must have a male guardian, without whose permission she will not be able to get married, get a job, get an education, medical care or go somewhere. A woman should not leave open body parts in public places, leave special zones (thator sex segregation), and only a caregiver, teacher, salesman or nurse is allowed to work. Women cannot drive a car, use public transport, and are released from prison (the religious police send them there) only after the permission of a male guardian. The latter often insist on extending the sentence.
