Impact of the 1979 Revolution | Azadeh Davachi: A ‘Backwardness’ Was Imposed on Iranian Women
Only a few days had passed since the victory of the 1979 Revolution when its destructive consequences for Iranian women became apparent with the mandatory hijab order issued by Ayatollah Khomeini. After that, numerous discriminations and restrictions against women were implemented legally and systematically.
On the eve of the anniversary of the revolution in Iran, Azadeh Davachi, a writer and women’s rights researcher, discusses these developments and changes with Voice of America, describing them as the imposition of “backwardness” on Iranian women. She says “during the Shah’s time, the situation of women was not very good,” but “at that time women had made progress in many social issues and could have progressed further if the laws had not been that way.”
Ms. Davachi states that during the Islamic Republic era, “restrictive laws against women in Iranian society” have prevented women’s progress, and if a woman wants to move beyond traditions and the traditional fabric of society, she faces legal barriers that “support patriarchal structures” and “provide no support for women.”
Source: Voice of America
