Last night I was flicking through the tv and came across a journey to Iran by Rageh Omar (journalist). In honor or P&R I thought I would watch and see what I could understand about life in Tehran. A few very interesting things came out including about women in Iran. Things that I saw about Iranian women: 1. Iran's women do not have to wear a full face veil. Most (over 80%) wear just a headscarf (hijab) 2. Iran's women wear makeup 3. Iran has one of the highest rates of plastic surgery in the world 4. Women do work in Iran. One of the richest people in Tehran is a women who runs a transport firm. She told the journalist that women had gained freedoms in Iran but it was not yet completely equal. For example, women can't ride motorcycles (this seemed to be a recurring complaint) 5. At the newspaper the journalist visited over 50% of the journalists were women. 6. In Iranian universities, over 40% of students are women. Other things I learnt about Iran that the media 'forget' to mention: 1. Tehran looks like any western city. Tall skyscrapers and a busy atmosphere. 2. Iran has a 90%+ literacy rate, comparable to most western nations. (I wish ezguy would learn to write and he is from the US) 3. There are no night clubs and bars in Iran but people don't seem bothered. In the night times they go to massive areas of parks in the city. 4. Men do the majority of the talking in Iran. However, this is not because women are seen as inferior. It is because that is the culture of the country. Women are hugely respected and are gradually speaking out more. 5. Iran has shopping malls that could appear in the West. The teenagers are rebellious just like in the west. 6. The protests against Israel are all government organised and most Iranians do believe that the Palestinians are being mis-treated. However, there is very little hatred for the US shown by the majority of Iranians. 7. There is a lot of media control in Iran however, newspaper circulation is at an all time low. Though satellite TV is banned in Iran, it is the primary source of news for 90% of Iranians. Many newspapers have closed down because Iranians realise it is all censored. Iranians know how the west perceives them and the film showed that the perception was wrong and many Iranians want to change the perception. 8. Iran has a lot of NGO's caring for people with cancer etc.. There seems to be more non-government charities in Iran than I can think of in the UK. Most are headed by women. 9. Iran has a huge drug problem. Over 20 million people are estimated to be on drugs (the official figure is 2 million) 10. two thirds of the Iranian population are under 30. 11. In the Iran-Iraq war, Iran won against all the odds. Iraq was supported by US, British and the Soviet Union yet Iran managed to pull out 250,000 men to fight. There is a deep love for their country from all Iranians. 12. There are lots of expensive cars in Tehran - I was shocked at all the sports cars I saw. Most are owned by rich people in the music industry. 13. The music industry is also heavily censored but it is a huge business area. Overall, the film showed people are happy in Iran. People say change will only happen from within Iran and not from outside pressures and many are concerned about foreign interference in Iran.
Relative to other Middle Eastern countries with Lebanon being the exception Iran even going back to the days of the Shah has always been a progressive society possibly 2nd only in the Middle East to Lebanon in freedom of expression
Another proof that someone have full control over media and we see what they want us to see. By the way, mate any link to documentary? I'd love to watch.
It was broadcast on BBC 4 last night. BBC 4 is only available on Sky and freeview (probably didnt want everyone to see it) Here is the BBC link
well i have just watched the full TV Doc and it is not what i thought it would be about. i wouldn't class talking to 2 of the most successful women in Iran, as an overview of how the everyday girl feels. While it was filmed over 12 months ago, things have changed for the worse with regards to womens dress code and oppression. Even at the meeting were he was, he pointed out that he came to do a story on the women, but the men where doing the talking and not the women. I feel it is still a case of women shouldn't be seen shouldn't be heard, and should do as they are told. thats the image and message i got all through that Doc. a 90 minute TV Documentary on women with only 10 minutes of it talking to 3 women and 80 minutes of it talking to 20 guys. it spent more time talking about the censorship of the newspapers satellite TV and music industries, than it did on the ordinary women of Iran
Yea all of that is true, they are the worlds leaders in "nose jobs" to look more western in most cases lol They listen to rap, do drugs, have illegal alcohol sessions indoors & so on. Their government holds them back.
It always make me laugh when people go on about Islams view on women. Pakistan accepted a women PM back in the 80's. Since then Turkey, Indonesia and Bangladesh twice. How many women Presidents of the USA can you name