Author(s)

Hsiang Chi Chen

Corresponding Author

Hsiang Chi Chen

Abstract

The Iranian Revolution of 1979 and the establishment of the Islamic Republic, has conferred greater emancipatory powers, particularly for female access to leadership positions in the political arena. However, this report argues that the quest for female access to Iran's political sphere has not gone far enough. There is yet to be a female President despite, in theory, the lack of legal ban. Thus, there exists a serious ‘rhetoric-action’ puzzle; whilst Ayatollah Khomeini, the seminal figure in establishing the Iranian constitution, frequently proclaimed the Republic’s commitment to gender equality, the present reality is that this remains an unrealised myth. Women encounter numerous barriers to establishing their political careers. This essay will draw to light how Iranian women cannot access executive political roles due to gendered political institutions, and in the second section of this essay, provide solutions to the current gender inequality. Gender equality will be measured by access to the political sphere and leadership positions, but I acknowledge it can also be measured through levels of violence, property rights, legal rights and autonomy. Though beyond the remit of this essay, it is important to acknowledge gender inequality in its entirety constitutes a significant contemporary socio-economic issue in Iran.

Keywords

Gender equality, Iran, political institutions, Sustainable Development Goals, reform, inequality, education, constitutional change