Women’s Political Participation from the Islamic Perspective

 

In contrast to Liberal and Marxist theories, the Islamic view is based on revelation. Addressing the equality of men and women and their creation, God says in the Holy Quran: “Oh mankind! Be wary of your Lord who created you from a single soul, and created its mate from it, and from the two of them scattered numerous men and women.” (Quran 4:1)

 

Before the victory of the Islamic Revolution, there had been traditional and modern discourses on women’s participation one of which encouraged them to stay home and the other considered them as an instrument. However, the discourse of the Islamic Revolution introduced a third way. By raising the issue of hijab, this discourse created a middle ground according to which, unlike the traditional discourse, women can be present in society, and unlike the modernization discourse, a special type of their social presence is defined.

 

Indicators of Participation

 

Trust

 

The victory of the Revolution and the establishment of the Islamic Republic increased public confidence in various ways. Article 37 of the Constitution of Iran stipulates: “Innocence is to be presumed, and no one is to be held guilty of a charge unless his or her guilt has been established by a competent court.”

 

Education

 

According to the studies, there are acquired factors that affect women’s political participation and they would emerge through the process of the socialization of females.

 

Ayatollah Khamenei, the Supreme Leader, talks about women’s education and training: “If a society could lead the women towards adopting the Islamic way of life, that is to say, following Lady Zahra (a) and Lady Zaynab (a) as best role models, helping them to play a key role in the history and the world, then we can say that women have reached their true sublime status.”  

 

Women’s Islamic Identity

 

Regarding the revolutionary-Islamic identity of women in the Islamic Republic, the Supreme Leader says: “In the West today, when a woman marries a man and goes to her husband’s house, even her last name will be changed. The wife has her surname as long as she is not married. As soon as she gets married, the woman’s last name changes to the man’s one. This is a Western custom. This has not been the case with the women of our country. The women of Iran maintain their family identity.”

 

The Political Structure

 

The victory of the Islamic Revolution transformed the hereditary monarchy into a religious democracy in which the leader, president, the members of parliament, and local councils are elected directly or indirectly by the people. This structural change provided the ground for the increase of the political participation of all citizens, including women.

 

The Islamic Revolution gave women a new identity in which they found themselves to be influential in social and political developments. With this identity, women tried to show their talents. On the other hand, the level of women’s education increased rapidly. In 1976, only 26% of women were literate. This number reached 52% and 72% in 1986 and 1996 respectively.

 

It was not until the Qajar Period that women in Iran played a significant role in political developments. As the Iranian society was more patriarchal, to the extent that in the view of Abolfazl Beyhaqi, the greatest Iranian historian, men are the main element in the history of Iran.

 

Believing in the traditions and customs of a patriarchal society and limiting women’s activities to housekeeping and marriage, were the characteristics of women in traditional Iranian society. However, in the last two centuries, Iranian women gradually became active in political and social fields. 

 

Women have achieved a prominent position in society during the movements that took place in Iran in the past century, such as the Tobacco Movement and the Constitutional Revolution. These movements have special political, social, and cultural significance because they are part of Iranian contemporary history and had sought to fight against tyranny and colonialism. 

 

By studying the documents related to the Constitutional Revolution one would realize that women played a significant role in it. According to the historical accounts, after the Russian ultimatum to the parliament, women in the cities started carrying guns by which they were threatening the MPs not to surrender. 

 

Also, during the Pahlavi period, the political deprivation of women continued in another way. Although the Pahlavi’s claimed to pursue modernism, they created a politically restrictive environment such that the achievements of the Constitutional Revolution in the field of people’s sovereignty were destroyed. On the other hand, abusing women and addressing issues such as fashion and vulgar art had made political participation seem less important to women. A survey conducted in 1975 shows that the main characteristic of an ideal woman from the Iranian point of view includes traits such as housekeeping and being good-tempered.

 

The abolition of the hijab and encouraging Iranian women to wear make-up and adorn themselves, along with allowing women who belonged to the ruling class to participate in some social and political activities, were part of the regime’s efforts to modernize Iran. 

 

These policies deprived many women in society, especially religious ones, of education and social activities, and only a small number of them who belonged to certain classes got the opportunity to study and participate symbolically in social and political affairs. 

In the Pahlavi government, the abolition of the hijab and the promotion of an instrumentalist attitude towards women, aimed at facilitating the development and modernization of Iran. However, the official statistics indicate a different fact. At a time when the Shah was talking about the great civilization and ending the discrimination of women, more than 75% of the women in the country were illiterate. Another obstacle in the way of the women’s participation before the Revolution was the dual discrimination; that is, on the one hand, there was political and social inequality between men and women, and on the other hand, only the upper-class could use the limited opportunities that were provided for women. 

 

The victory of the Islamic Revolution brought about a change in the identity of women, and their position in society developed rapidly. The Islamic Revolution evolved values. As a result, people no longer valued many of the previous criteria, such as gender, social class, economic status, etc., and replaced them with piety.

 

After the victory of the Islamic Revolution, Islamic teachings entered the political and social literature thereby providing a religious inspiration for women’s self-confidence. 

In addition, religious role models such as Lady Fatimah al-Zahra (a) and Lady Zaynab (a) were introduced to women through textbooks, radio and television programs, and other media. This divine thinking is reflected in the political thought of the Leader of the Revolution.

 

Holding a different view about and showing respect towards women, Imam Khomeini (ra) revived women’s freedom which was accompanied by chastity. Moreover, while acknowledging the abilities and capabilities of Muslim women, he called for women’s political participation and warned them about isolation. 

 

Under the Islamic Republic, women could involve in various fields. Before the Islamic Revolution, only upper-class women were allowed to participate in elections. This change was rooted in the changing of the attitudes towards women and outlining a new strategy by figures such as Imam Khomeini (ra) and Ayatollah Motahhari.

In the Islamic Republic, women’s participation is important from two aspects. It is, on the one hand, part of their citizenship rights, and this is very valuable, and on the other hand, a means to use the capabilities of half of the country’s population and move forward in accordance with the indicators of development. The Islamic Republic provided the grounds for women’s social mobilization, especially their scientific progress, and this contributed to increasing political participation. Furthermore, it created a new identity for women and increased their dignity. Imam Khomeini (ra) stated: “From woman’s lap man ascends to the skies.” With these interpretations, he raised the status of women to the highest level. This self-confidence paved the way for the presence of women in all fields, such that they reached high levels, not only in the political sphere but also in the military sector as well.

 

In the first months after the victory of the Islamic Revolution, by the order of Imam Khomeini (ra), the government put reducing illiteracy on the agenda. According to the historical documents, women welcomed and were very eager to participate in literacy programs. This educational leap paved the way for increased women’s political participation. In general, after the victory of the Islamic Revolution, four variables have played a role in increasing women’s political participation, especially in the elections: the increase of social trust; formation of revolutionary-Islamic identity and strengthening of the religious aspect of political participation; expanding the education of women at different levels, which made them aware of their rights and duties; and the changing of the political structure and the establishment of religious democracy system, which have provided the ground for women’s political participation through holding elections.

 

Reference: The Islamic Journal of Women and the Family. Vol 8, No 18, Spring 2020, Pp 9- 31.

 

 

Archive of The Thought of the Islamic Revolution