By: The Elahater, founder of Hate On Me
As the protests and demonstrations go on in Iran, a lot has been made of the presence and role of women. When I read Roger Cohen’s description of Saturday’s events on the ground, I was struck by this part:
I also know that Iran’s women stand in the vanguard. For days now, I’ve seen them urging less courageous men on. I’ve seen them get beaten and return to the fray. “Why are you sitting there?” one shouted at a couple of men perched on the sidewalk on Saturday. “Get up! Get up!”
Another green-eyed woman, Mahin, aged 52, staggered into an alley clutching her face and in tears. Then, against the urging of those around her, she limped back into the crowd moving west toward Freedom Square. Cries of “Death to the dictator!” and “We want liberty!” accompanied her.
I heard so many commentators, etc. shocked by the presence and courage and strength of women. But as an Iranian-American woman, this image didn’t feel unreal to me. It actually felt very real. Hijab or no hijab, I know these women are fearless, courageous, push the boundaries and are brave. How could they not be living in such a society and under such cultural expectations?
I see hints of it from the stories of the women in my family. My grandmother told my mother to educate herself and never depend upon a man for anything. I see aunts back in the motherland who don’t hesistate to call out men on their B.S.
It feels amazing to have this strength confirmed before the world through images and video and reports. It reminds me of Tahirih and the tradition she left for Iranian women. Over 150 years ago in Persia, she unveiled and was the first champion of women’s rights in Iran. Her last words before she was killed were, “You can kill me, but you cannot stop the emancipation of women.”
Iranian culture and society force women to become adept at practicing an inordinate amount of patience. Many know they deserve freedom and they long for it, whether it be from laws that denote them to second-class citizen status or from a culture that places their needs and wants second to those of men. Freedom from the obvious and the subtle. Patience is the only thing that allows them to survive in such a climate. I guess they’re becoming impatient.
One protester in the streets named Parisa said this to CNN:
“I see lots of girls and women in these demonstrations,” she said. “They are all angry, ready to explode, scream out and let the world hear their voice. I want the world to know that as a woman in this country, I have no freedom.”
It seems as if the women have more at stake here than the men. Of course they’re going to be urging their brothers on.
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