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این یک عنوان است.

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Ali Kalai

Mehdiyeh Golro is an active women’s rights activist, born in September 1985. She studied economics at Allameh Tabatabaei University and Alzahra University. Due to her political and student activities, she was deprived of education from 2008 to 2017 and finally received her bachelor’s degree from Payam Noor University issued by the Ministry of Science. She was arrested by the intelligence and Revolutionary Guards in 2008 in protest against being deprived of education, in 2009 in protest against the election results, and in 2014 in protest against the acid attacks in Isfahan. The Peace Line, in conversation with her, delves into the cultural and traditional roots of sexism and gender discrimination.

From your perspective, what traditions in our Iranian culture can be considered sexist?

Sexist traditions are divided into two parts: international traditions that exist in the world as a common practice. It doesn’t matter where you live, what nationality, culture or religion you have. Whether you live in underdeveloped or developed countries, there are a series of these sexist traditions. For example, men are stronger and women are weaker, men should not cry, men should be breadwinners and women should do household chores, women are better mothers, men are inherently unable to have children, when a girl is born, she should receive a pink gift or doll, and for boys’ birthdays, a blue or dark gift must be prepared, boys’ toys should be tanks, balls and guns, or when a crying boy is calmed down, they are told not to cry, or give a doll to a girl and say “you’re just like your mother, don’t cry.” These are common international traditions. In fact, anyone can be raised under sexist traditions, whether in a

How does the sexualization of culture and traditions affect healthy and constructive relationships between genders, especially between women and men?

In fact, your question has two parts. The relationships between genders, whether these sexist traditions exist or not, what differences do they have with each other. We must see what has happened in society with the existence of these traditions and cultures. There are several serious crises in the world that are much more severe in our country for the reasons we mentioned, and this also shows us more damage. Imagine that for years it has been said to the men of a country that you do not have the right to cry and you must be brave. Now these boys have grown up and are expected to be mentally healthy individuals! He has been told since childhood that he does not have the right to express his feelings, now that he reaches maturity and enters into emotional relationships, should we expect him to be able to express his feelings to his emotional partner, whether opposite or same sex? He will certainly be unable to express his feelings, because since childhood and when he had the opportunity to express his feelings, he was

How do gender stereotypes related to caring for and protecting women (such as sisters, mothers, wives) by men, in our culture, contribute to the construction of the concept of honor? A problem that has plagued our society.

This issue is more common among some Iranian tribes. We see that in places where laws have more influence, honor killings have also decreased. However, in some parts of Iran, this issue still exists. The fact that a man can kill his wife or daughter based on the slightest suspicion, regardless of being a gender stereotype, is also a legal issue. A father who is considered the guardian of his daughter according to the law and has the right to kill her without legal consequences, is a legal loophole in itself. Perhaps if such laws did not exist, honor killings would also decrease. Developing preventive laws and punishments can prevent many of these killings. Alongside this, providing special education in these areas will definitely have an impact. A specific topic can be highlighted in each region and necessary education can be provided based on it. For example, in areas with more honor killings, training courses and research can be conducted. But unfortunately, this issue has never been considered an important issue in the past 40 years

How do you evaluate the role of education in limiting language and cultural traditions that may contain sexist stereotypes? Where does the current state of education stand in this regard?

Regarding education, the situation in terms of sexual stereotypes and sexist attitudes, especially in elementary school, is tragic and strongly anti-women. It seems as though books are written only for boys and girls are not meant to read them. The approach of these books is completely in line with the traditional view of women, such as: the woman as a cook, the woman as a nurse, the woman who stays at home and especially in the kitchen, the man who rides a horse, the man who goes to the front lines and war. As I mentioned before, these stereotypes are not even beneficial for men. These stereotypes have existed in the past, but they have intensified and multiplied in the current era, to the point where female characters or girls in books don’t even have names. In the books of our childhood, there were women whose names stayed in our minds and became memories, such as Mrs. Kokab, Mrs. Kobra, and Mrs. Kobra’s Decision. In the new

I want to say that this educational system, especially in primary school, has had a negative impact on the minds and feelings of children. For years, psychologists, sociologists, and women’s rights activists have been shouting that these books are not appropriate, they are anti-women and anti-children, but unfortunately, it has had no effect. Those who have no understanding of children and non-gender-based education continue to write and publish these books, and millions of children are burdened with incorrect education in their early years.

Nowadays, with the fundamental changes in gender roles, many men have risen up to claim their rights and argue that sexism and gender stereotypes have also affected them. It is even said in some cases that feminism itself is sexist and discriminates against men. Do you agree with this claim?

We need to discuss how feminism has been defined in Iran. As a feminist woman, I believe that it is not possible for someone to believe in human rights and equality and not be a feminist. That is why men who are anti-feminist or women and men who say they believe in equality but are not feminists, have not truly understood the definition of feminism or have seen it as something outside of their own understanding and think that their own definition aligns with it. It’s like they have seen a white yogurt and have been told that it is yogurt, while in reality the yogurt is not white and what they have is not yogurt. I don’t know what they have seen of feminism that they say they believe in equality but are not feminists. This is one of the most incorrect statements I have heard in my entire life – that I believe in equality but I am not a feminist! Because feminism is essentially about equality and nothing more. If this woman says she is a feminist and wants equal

That man who says, “I want to use the benefits of Western feminism and have my wife go to work and bring in an income and share everything in our life together, and have equal participation in all matters of our life,” but I choose when my wife goes out of the house and when she returns and say that I am also a feminist. Such a man is not a feminist.

Feminism has a clear definition. It means either an accepted definition that is explicitly equal, or that you do not accept it and cannot claim to be a feminist.

Feminism, in its true form, is about equality and can even benefit men. Men who have been oppressed in society from a gender rights perspective. This means that feminism can also bring men to a state of equality and desirability. I strongly believe that feminism is beneficial for both women and men. Imagine having equality and being in a relationship and society where there are no restrictions that can put you in a higher or lower position. You will definitely have an easier life. I have no doubt that feminism is the solution for both women and men. Throughout human history, men have been burdened with responsibilities because of their gender, and feminism says to let go of those burdens! And women have also been restricted because of their gender, and feminism says to remove those restrictions. So this is beneficial for both of them. That’s why I say that feminism is the only way for both genders to find salvation. One gender lets go of the responsibilities that have been placed on them throughout history because

Of course, every movement has different aspects and different groups have worked on it. For example, liberal feminists or socialist feminists have different perspectives and they also have disagreements with radical feminists.

I accept that there are radical feminists and I do not reject their activities and theories. But what we have in society in Iran today and what they do is not it. I consider myself a social feminist and believe it is the most influential form of feminism. Generally, I believe that socialists are closer to activism and realism.

Radicals exist in all intellectual spheres. But one may ask, on International Women’s Day, how loud do the voices of radical feminists become in the world? The issue here is that a small group of radical feminists gather somewhere and then become prominent, and for example, they say that feminists are the ones who went and stripped in front of the United Nations.

Feminist women in Iran who are demanding their rights, go to the stadium. You can go to many countries in the world and say that Iranian feminist women are fighting to enter the stadium, for example Azadi Stadium, or they are discussing cycling in Isfahan, or they gather in front of the parliament to protest against acid attacks and get arrested, or they get arrested on International Workers’ Day. Then to say that these Iranian feminist women are radical is very unfair. This is because Iranian feminist women are fighting for their basic rights in Iran. To say that Iranian feminist women have even gone towards radicalism in Iran can be the most unfair criticism of the women’s movement in Iran. Because our path cannot go towards radicalism and unfortunately our demands are so minimal, we have been so suppressed and our demands have been pushed to the ground, we have to try to solve these demands for now and then move on to having higher demands. We still cannot have a female minister in Iran.

Of course, the Minister of Health, Mr. Ahmadinejad, was a woman. That means we at least had one example!

My ideal was a true female minister.

Do you think modernity has brought a new form of sexism with its characteristics? Can we distinguish between traditional and modern sexism? What is your opinion on the relationship between these two as historical aspects of gender discrimination?

Gender stereotypes are a collection of traditions and a part of culture that have been present for years through traditions, customs, and religion. They still continue to exist. However, what modernism has added to it is the objectification and sexualization of women. We see this in the media and in advertisements. Despite the strict enforcement of the hijab in Iran, we also have this issue in our media, such as in radio and television. This is a detailed topic and a separate discussion can be had about the media and women in Iran. But in short, these gender stereotypes are being reproduced in advertisements. For example, it is always the woman who prepares the food and serves it to the man. Even in bank advertisements, it is the man who has the bank card, takes the money, and gives it to the woman, who is simply a consumer. The role of production is usually associated with men. Another point is the use of women’s beauty as a subject for visual appeal, which

Thank you for the opportunity you have given us to use the peace line.