Gender Cleavage
Explanation:
Gender cleavage is a major cleavage especially in the world we live in today. As more and more women started to see themselves as equal to men, women of more conservative countries like Iran began to realize their power and fight for their power. For example, in 2009, Iran women marched side by side to protest the fraud of the election. Prior to the march, a woman called Sister Birtukan was jailed for speaking for the right of women. Not only did she spoke more fervently for the cause than before, and this inspired more Iranian women to take a stand and speak up for themselves.
Historical Background:
Although Islam was introduced in Iran during the late Seventh Century, it was not until the period of Safavid Kings in the sixteenth and seventeenth century that Shiism became the official religion of the state.
By the twentieth century, Reza Khan, a Cossack military commander, desired a Republic, a more modernized nation. However, his ideas were not accepted by the clergy and therefore, through years of political struggles, in April 25, 1926, Reza Khan named himself Shah, or King and thus began the Dynasty of the Pahlavi Shahs.
Under the reform of Reza Khan and his son Mohamad Reza Shah, women received more protection and rights. There was the Family Protection Act of 1975 which increased the rights of women significantly. The act gave women increased civil rights in marriage, child custody, and divorce. However, another major accomplishment was opening up the educational system to women and allowing them to access to employment opportunities
Yet, there were still tensions between the pre-Islamic and Islamic character of the country, and the tensions were seen clearly during the reign of the Pahlavi Shahs. The Pahlavi era valued country interest over Islamic values and believed that the existence of clergy was contrary to the upmost interest of the country.
Gender cleavage is a major cleavage especially in the world we live in today. As more and more women started to see themselves as equal to men, women of more conservative countries like Iran began to realize their power and fight for their power. For example, in 2009, Iran women marched side by side to protest the fraud of the election. Prior to the march, a woman called Sister Birtukan was jailed for speaking for the right of women. Not only did she spoke more fervently for the cause than before, and this inspired more Iranian women to take a stand and speak up for themselves.
Historical Background:
Although Islam was introduced in Iran during the late Seventh Century, it was not until the period of Safavid Kings in the sixteenth and seventeenth century that Shiism became the official religion of the state.
By the twentieth century, Reza Khan, a Cossack military commander, desired a Republic, a more modernized nation. However, his ideas were not accepted by the clergy and therefore, through years of political struggles, in April 25, 1926, Reza Khan named himself Shah, or King and thus began the Dynasty of the Pahlavi Shahs.
Under the reform of Reza Khan and his son Mohamad Reza Shah, women received more protection and rights. There was the Family Protection Act of 1975 which increased the rights of women significantly. The act gave women increased civil rights in marriage, child custody, and divorce. However, another major accomplishment was opening up the educational system to women and allowing them to access to employment opportunities
Yet, there were still tensions between the pre-Islamic and Islamic character of the country, and the tensions were seen clearly during the reign of the Pahlavi Shahs. The Pahlavi era valued country interest over Islamic values and believed that the existence of clergy was contrary to the upmost interest of the country.
The Iranian Revolution of 1979
Unsatisfied about the reign of Mohamad Reza Shah, Khomeini initiated the Iranian Revolution. However, by gaining help from the women, he promised equal rights to women in every aspect, however, he did not fulfill his promises. Khomeini was a fundamentalist, and he insisted the traditional Islamic role of women. Therefore, women were once again restricted to their previous roles, mostly as housewives.
Again, women have to wear veils, perform their "duties" as wife and mother and they are harshly discriminated. Khomeini's believe that women are sexual objects, and the veil is to cover up these "sexual" beings and to prevent women from tempting men.
Ironically, men got their original superior roles back. They can have four wives and legalized affairs through the institution of sigheh or temporary marriage.
Furthermore, there were the reproductive policies that deemed contraception and any form of family planning as being against Islam. This resulted in a dramatic rise in the population of the country from 38 million in 1979 to 60 million by 1993. Such great increase in population caused economic instability.
Again, women have to wear veils, perform their "duties" as wife and mother and they are harshly discriminated. Khomeini's believe that women are sexual objects, and the veil is to cover up these "sexual" beings and to prevent women from tempting men.
Ironically, men got their original superior roles back. They can have four wives and legalized affairs through the institution of sigheh or temporary marriage.
Furthermore, there were the reproductive policies that deemed contraception and any form of family planning as being against Islam. This resulted in a dramatic rise in the population of the country from 38 million in 1979 to 60 million by 1993. Such great increase in population caused economic instability.
Effects on Political Participation
However, despite of the unequal rights and status, the revolution also marked the start of women’s political participation in Iran. There are three different kinds of political participation of women, first is mobilized political participation, second is traditional political participation, and last is modern political participation.
An example of mobilized participation would be the demonstrations and marches women participated during the Iranian Revolution. As for traditional participation, it is related to the domestic roles of women. During the war of Iraq, women prepared food and clothing for the army and provided emotional and financial support. Lastly, for modern political participation, Iranian women participate in elections, associations, non-government organizations and some even participated in the parliament besides the executive and judiciary position.
Furthermore, political participation of Iranian women was highlighted during the presidency of Khatami when 76 percent of Iranian women voted for him. Khatami was the only candidate that offered the special plan for improvement of women’s conditions. Also during his presidency, there was the Centre for Women's Participation (CWP) which integrates gender perspectives in national policy-making and the Women's Committee in each province handling women's issues within the area.
President Khatami also appointed women to higher decision-making positions such as presidential advisor, head of the CWP, deputy minister in the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, the Ministry of Health, University chancellor and director general in different parts of the government.
An example of mobilized participation would be the demonstrations and marches women participated during the Iranian Revolution. As for traditional participation, it is related to the domestic roles of women. During the war of Iraq, women prepared food and clothing for the army and provided emotional and financial support. Lastly, for modern political participation, Iranian women participate in elections, associations, non-government organizations and some even participated in the parliament besides the executive and judiciary position.
Furthermore, political participation of Iranian women was highlighted during the presidency of Khatami when 76 percent of Iranian women voted for him. Khatami was the only candidate that offered the special plan for improvement of women’s conditions. Also during his presidency, there was the Centre for Women's Participation (CWP) which integrates gender perspectives in national policy-making and the Women's Committee in each province handling women's issues within the area.
President Khatami also appointed women to higher decision-making positions such as presidential advisor, head of the CWP, deputy minister in the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, the Ministry of Health, University chancellor and director general in different parts of the government.
Charts
Personal Point of View
The gender cleavage of Iran was derived from the Muslim ideologies and the conservative views of the society. Most of the rules set upon women constrained women from having power or independence. For example, one rule required women to have a man of relation accompanying her when she goes out to the public. This limited the women's mobility and freedom dramatically. Despite all the limitation of the women in the country, the article 20 of the Constitution stated that “All citizens of the country, both men and women, equally enjoy the protection of the law and enjoy all human, political, economic, social, and cultural rights, in conformity with Islamic criteria.” With the inspiration from successful women's rights groups, the women of Iran could possibly have a taste of gender equality within the next century, and hopefully the gender cleavage could be completely gone one day.
http://us-iran.org/sites/default/files/webform/userarticle-submissions/women_in_politics-iran.pdf
http://www.iranchamber.com/society/articles/islamic_revolution_status_women.php
http://worldsavvy.org/monitor/index.php?option=com_content&id=476&Itemid=894
http://www.iranhrdc.org/english/womens-rights.html
http://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/monographs/2008/RAND_MG693.pdf
http://www.iranchamber.com/society/articles/islamic_revolution_status_women.php
http://worldsavvy.org/monitor/index.php?option=com_content&id=476&Itemid=894
http://www.iranhrdc.org/english/womens-rights.html
http://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/monographs/2008/RAND_MG693.pdf