Abstract

The women’s political rights status in contemporary Iran is a consequence of a set of values, beliefs, and their direct and indirect historical presence in politics and their role in social developments from the Constitution era to the present time. Throughout passing of time and considering the time and place conditions and requirements, the Islamic thinkers and jurisprudents’ attitudes and perspectives with respect to the position, role and the functions of the women in social and political arenas has changed. The emergence and outbreak of the thought developments in 18th century Europe and the resulting conditions in Iran originating from such developments constituted one of the main reasons for occurrence of the Constitution Revolution and the following formation of the new developments in the arena of the Iranian women.

Beginning of the Pahlavi Dynasty witnessed a new approach towards the women in social and political domains, producing new roles that resulted in the women presence in different fields of influencing the society, not so much fundamentally of course, but more outwardly and among the ruling classes, where gaining power was more accessible to them.

Resistance of the religious scholars and their followers in the society was one of the feedbacks of such an approach in the second Pahlavi reign, so that enfranchisement of the women caused more solidarity and integrity among this stratum. The findings of the research show that occurrence of the Islamic Revolution in Iran as a fundamental development has itself been the origin of appearing a new position for the women and has delineated formation of new dimensions of social participation and political rights for the women.

Serious and widespread presence of the women in the war and elections arenas, civil and public institutions, and attaining supreme positions of decision making indicates the women effective role in different society domains, especially political participation.