Javadi Yeganeh, M. R.& Fatemeh Azizi (2009) \The Cultural and Literary Backgrounds for the Unveiling of Women in Iran (1935); the Poetry of Opponents and Advocates] Iranian Journal of Sociology 10(1) Spring 2009: 99-137.

The Cultural and Literary Backgrounds for the Unveiling of Women in Iran (1935); the Poetry of Opponents and Advocates

Abstract:

One of the most challenging measures taken by Reza Shah was unveiling of women which were faced with many disagreements in the Iranian society. Having a different view to the issue of unveiling of women, this paper tries to place it at the cultural and literary ground of the Iranian society at the 1910's decade and 1920's until 1940. Then, on that basis, the poetry of the advocates of unveiling of women will be compared with the governmental reasoning at the time of unveiling of women.

Also the poetry of the advocates of unveiling of women and the poetry of opponents will be reviewed to show the different discourse and reasoning of both advocates and opponents. Moreover, the bases of the state reasoning for unveiling of women vis-à-vis the claims presented in the poetry of advocates will be discussed.

The analysis of the contents of the poetry of advocates of unveiling of women shows that the contents of these poems included five general grounds: Improving the general and cultural status of women through liberating women and their presence in the society, acquiring science and art and wisdom, denying the relationship between religion and unveiling, the lack of impact of Hijab (Islamic dress) on womenYs chastity, and finally a tendency towards ancient time and disagreement with Islam.

The study of governmental reasoning for unveiling of women indicates the existence of the above-mentioned five elements. In addition, there are two other reasoning, i.e. women employment and lack of receiving influence from foreigners. The reasons for adding these two reasons to the previous ones will be also elaborated in this paper.