Iranian gender restrictions in education: Difference between revisions
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'''Iranian gender restrictions in education''' are sometimes implied by individual Iranian universities by making some fields available only to men or women. The most popular of such was 2012 proposal of course restrictions which sparked internal and international controversy. |
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A number of '''Iranian restrictions on women's education''' have been introduced in recent years by various conservative Iranian groups. |
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{{main|Higher education in Iran}} |
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| ⚫ | As of 2006, women accounted for over half of university students in Iran<ref name=BBCed>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5359672.stm Women graduates challenge Iran], Francis Harrison, [[BBC]], September 26, 2006. Retrieved aSeptember 21, 2008.</ref> and 70% of Iran's science and engineering students.<ref>[http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v444/n7115/full/444022a.html Nature: News Feature]</ref> In 2012, according to the [[UNESCO]] data, 2,191,409 out of 4,404,614 students in tertiary education were females, thus making fifth largest female enrollment after China, India, USA and Brazil. In engineering fields Iranian female enrollment ranked as first in the World, in science fields second (after USA)<ref>[http://stats.uis.unesco.org/unesco/TableViewer/tableView.aspx?ReportId=168 UNESCO: Table 15]</ref>. |
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== 2011 segregation attempt == |
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| ⚫ | As of 2006, women accounted for over half of university students in Iran<ref name=BBCed>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5359672.stm Women graduates challenge Iran], Francis Harrison, [[BBC]], September 26, 2006. Retrieved aSeptember 21, 2008.</ref> and 70% of Iran's science and engineering students.<ref>[http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v444/n7115/full/444022a.html Nature: News Feature]</ref> |
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Such education and social trends are increasingly viewed with alarm by the Iranian conservatives groups.<ref name=BBCed/><ref name=VOE>[http://www.rferl.org/content/article/1079460.html Iran: Does Government Fear Educated Women?], Iraj Gorgin, [[Radio Free Europe]], February 10, 2008. Retrieved September 21, 2008.</ref> A report by the Research Center of the [[Majlis]] warned that the large female enrollment could cause "social disparity and economic and cultural imbalances between men and women."<ref name=BBCed/> |
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In early 2011, several Iranian universities announced that next academic year many first-year classes would be offered separately for men and women<ref name="zamaneh">{{cite news |title=Science Minister halts gender segregation in universities |url=http://archive.radiozamaneh.com/english/content/science-minister-halts-gender-segregation-universities |newspaper=[[Radio Zamaneh]] |date=7 July 2011 |accessdate=17 July 2013 }}</ref>. Kamran Daneshjoo, minister of science, said university administrators have been trying to implement directives from the Cultural Revolution Council to "protect Islamic dignity and morals"<ref name="zamaneh"/>. Proposition for segregating male and female students by few universities was halted in July by order of Iranian president [[Mahmoud Ahmadinejad]]<ref name="zamaneh"/><ref name="rooz">{{cite news |title=77 Academic Subjects Announced Not Suitable for Women|url=http://www.roozonline.com/english/news3/newsitem/archive/2012/august/07/article/77-academic-subjects-announced-not-suitable-for-women.html|newspaper=Rooz Online|date=7 August 2012 |accessdate=17 July 2013 }}</ref>. |
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==October 2010 course restriction== |
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In 2010, Iran imposed restrictions on a dozen social studies courses, including women's studies and human rights, on the grounds that "The content of the current courses in the 12 subjects is not in harmony with religious fundamentals and they are based on Western schools of thought."<ref name=AP4>{{cite news|first=Associated Press|title=Iran restricts social sciences seen as 'Western'|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3974198,00.html|accessdate=26 August 2012|newspaper=Associated Press|date=24 October 2010}}</ref> |
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==January 2011 Allameh Tabatabai University announcement== |
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In January 2011, the president of [[Allameh Tabatabai University]] in [[Tehran]], [[Sadreddin Shariati]], announced that subjects with large numbers of students would be split by gender. Prior to this, university libraries and canteens were already segregated, and male and female students often sat in separate rows in lecture halls. It was claimed that the Iranian public had already been requesting gender segregation in education in some highly religious areas and in the capital; also, such segregation was said to already be in progress in a number of other Iranian universities. Senior cleric [[Hojatoleslam Mohammad Mohamadian]] pushed for segregated classes in 2006, and again in 2009; other governmental requests to allow segregation date back over 15 years.<ref name=UWN1>{{cite news|last=Sharma, Yojana and Raeis, Shaya|title=IRAN: Growing separation of genders in universities|url=http://www.universityworldnews.com/article.php?story=20110204224833806|accessdate=26 August 2012|newspaper=University World News|date=06 February 2011}}</ref> |
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In early August 2012 it was reported that 36 universities in [[Iran]] have proposed cutting 77 fields of study from the female curriculum, making them male-only fields<ref name="tabnak">{{cite news |title=حذف دختران در ۷۷ رشته دانشگاهی|url=http://www.tabnak.ir/fa/news/264141/%D8%AD%D8%B0%D9%81-%D8%AF%D8%AE%D8%AA%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%AF%D8%B1-%DB%B7%DB%B7-%D8%B1%D8%B4%D8%AA%D9%87-%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%B4%DA%AF%D8%A7%D9%87%DB%8C|newspaper=Tabnak|date=9 August 2012 |accessdate=17 July 2013}}</ref>. Such courses include empirical sciences, the human sciences, the arts and foreign languages<ref name="rooz"/>. Proposal has been defended by Jalal Tabatabai, university testing deputy, who rejected the gender discrimination at universities and said "Because of some considerations, it is possible that through their annual tests certain universities may admit only men or women to certain academic fields, but this does not mean that student admission to these fields is restricted to a specific gender because other universities follow their own admission policies and applicants can apply to the same fields in other universities"<ref name="rooz"/>. He added "The need to admit students to different fields is determined by universities and in principle this decision is made on the basis of the needs and necessities of society. Therefore, some fields in some years are only available to men or women"<ref name="rooz"/>. |
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==April 2012== |
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[[Amnesty International]] reported that in April 2012, university security personnel at the Roudehen Branch of Islamic [[Azad University]] beat female students who were not complying with [[hijab]] (Islamic dress) standards.<ref name=AI1>{{cite web|first=Amnesty International|title=Amnesty International Joint Public Statement|url=http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/MDE13/033/2012/en/83888d3b-7839-4829-8770-8acc122462be/mde130332012en.pdf|publisher=Amnesty International|accessdate=26 August 2012}}</ref> They also claimed reports of quotas restricting women’s admission to specific university programs ("designed to reduce women’s access to specific fields of study") implemented by the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology. Such restrictions on women’s educational choices were said to violate the prohibition on discrimination and Iran’s obligations under [[international law]].<ref name=AI1></ref> |
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Specific universities gave various arguments in favor: [[Oil Industry University]] claimed the "lack of employer demand"<ref name="rooz"/>, and [[Isfahan University]] stated that from those that obtained mining engineering degrees "98% of female graduates don't work in this area"<ref name="tabnak"/>. Abolfazl Hassani, director general for the spread of education at the Ministry of science, research and technology, initially also supported idea with explanation: "Universities draw up plans for the future of higher education in the provinces and other parts of the country on the basis of the results they obtain from the entrance exams and the state of higher education in the past. They also consider their capacity and the needs of society". He added "Some fields are not very suitable for women’s nature such as agricultural machinery or mining, partly because of the hard work involved in them. Past experience shows that women do not become professionally active in these fields after they are admitted to these subjects and even after they graduate. This results in unemployment of graduates"<ref name="rooz"/>. Later, Hassani has changed his position: "Letters have been sent to the heads of these universities to enquire about the reasons for their decision. This is because if a university decides to admit only men or women to specific academic programs, it must first establish the necessary infrastructure for such a gender separation"<ref name="rooz"/>. Responses to the new restrictions have been so extensive inside Iran that even the Ministry of Education’s academic evaluation organization has taken a position against<ref name="rooz"/>. |
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===Restrictions=== |
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On 20 August 2012, an announcement was made by Iran's [[Ministry of Science, Research and Technology (Iran)|Ministry of Science, Research and Technology]] that 36 universities in [[Iran]] would be cutting 77 fields of study from the female curriculum, making them male-only fields. The fields chosen include most sciences and engineering, among others. The curriculum change is to begin being implemented for the 2013 school year and the fields of study limitations for women have been added to the university "leaflets".<ref>{{cite news |title=Male-order education: Iran bars women from 77 university courses|author=[[Staff writer]]|url=http://rt.com/news/iran-women-university-ban-171/ |newspaper=[[RT (TV network)|Russia Today]]|date=21 August 2012|accessdate=21 August 2012}}</ref> Universities like the [[Oil Industry University]] have completely barred women from attending, citing the "lack of employer demand".<ref name=hdn22>{{cite news |title=Iran bans women from 77 university majors, including engineering, physics |author=[[Staff writer]] |url=http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/iran-bans-women-from-77-university-majors-including-engineering-physics-.aspx?pageID=238&nID=28325&NewsCatID=352 |accessdate=22 August 2012 |newspaper=[[Hurriyet Daily News]] |date=22 August 2012 |location=Istanbul}}</ref> |
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=== Media manipulations === |
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The announcement came soon after the release of statistics showing that women were graduating in far higher numbers than men from Iranian universities and were scoring overall better than men, especially in the sciences.<ref name="Telegraph">{{cite web | url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iran/9487761/Anger-as-Iran-bans-women-from-universities.html | title=Anger as Iran bans women from universities | publisher=The Telegraph | date=20 August 2012 | accessdate=August 24, 2012 | author=Tait, Robert}}</ref> |
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{{main|Anti-Iranian sentiment}} |
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Following proposal, series of sensationalist inflammatory and misleading headlines like ''Iran Bans Women From Universities'' or ''Iran Bans Women from College Courses'' were published in Western [[mainstream media]]<ref name="huffington">{{cite news |title=Did Iran Really Just Ban Women From Universities? |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/adam-pourahmadi/iran-ban-university-women_b_1821611.html|newspaper=[[Huffington Post]]|date=22 August 2012 |accessdate=17 July 2013}}</ref><ref name="ajam">{{cite news |title=No, Iran Didn't Just Ban Women From Universities|url=http://ajammc.com/2012/08/22/no-iran-didnt-just-ban-women-from-universities-2/|newspaper=Ajam Media|date=22 August 2012 |accessdate=17 July 2013}}</ref>. [[Robert Tait]], [[The Telegraph]]'s Middle East correspondent based in [[Jerusalem]] ([[Israel]]), claimed that "women in Iran will be hereto banned from universities because of the worries of senior clerics"<ref name="ajam"/>. It was also falsely claimed "announcement of course ban" was made by Iran's government<ref name="huffington"/> or [[Ministry of Science, Research and Technology (Iran)|Ministry of Science, Research and Technology]] who actually criticized proposal<ref name="tabnak"/>, while it was actually individual university-level proposal<ref name="huffington"/>. |
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This reasoning was echoed by [[Isfahan University]], which stated that from those that obtained mining engineering degrees "98% of female graduates ended up jobless."<ref name="Telegraph"/> The disciplines related to agriculture were also regarded as "unfit" for female students.<ref name=hdn22/> Therefore, as a consequence of this move, women will not become engineers, nuclear physicists, archaeologists, business graduates and computer scientists in Iran.<ref name=hdn22/> Additionally, they are also banned from attending the departments of English literature, translation and hotel management.<ref name=hdn22/> Another reason given was that because of a shortage of available female dormitories, attendance had to be lowered. A comparison was made, however, to the fact that [[nursing]] was made a female-only degree in the same announcement.<ref name="LAT"/> |
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The possibility of fields of study restrictions was first reported by the [[Mehr News Agency]] on 6 August 2012. The news followed the release of the year's entrance exam scores, showing that 60% of university attendees are women,<ref name="NYT">{{cite news|title=Universities in Iran Put Limits on Women's Options |author=Zakiyyah Wahab |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/20/world/middleeast/20iht-educbriefs20.html?_r=1|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=20 August 2012 |accessdate=21 August 2012}}</ref> along with test scores of the past few years showing women largely outperforming men. This included 52% of university graduates being women and 68% of science degree graduates being women.<ref>{{cite news |title=Iran Barring Women From Atomic, Oil Fields Draws Rebuke |author=Jonathan Tirone |url=http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-08-21/iran-barring-women-from-atomic-oil-fields-draws-rebuke.html |newspaper=[[Bloomberg Businessweek]]|date=21 August 2012 |accessdate=21 August 2012}}</ref> These results have caused concern among the senior clerics of the country, who became worried about the "social side-effects of rising educational standards among women, including declining birth and marriage rates".<ref name="Telegraph"/> |
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===Responses=== |
===Responses=== |
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====Iran==== |
====Iran==== |
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*[[Seyed Abolfazl Hassani]], a senior Iranian education official, stated in defense of the announcement that, "Some fields are not very suitable for women’s nature, such as agricultural machinery or mining, partly because of the hard work involved in them."<ref name=" |
*[[Seyed Abolfazl Hassani]], a senior Iranian education official, stated in defense of the announcement that, "Some fields are not very suitable for women’s nature, such as agricultural machinery or mining, partly because of the hard work involved in them."<ref name="rooz"/> |
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*The policy change was criticized by some Iranian parliamentarians, such as [[Mohammad-Mehdi Zahedi]], head of the Iranian parliament’s education and research committee. However, [[Kamran Daneshjoo]], the science and higher education minister, gave a "guarded response" to the news, saying that the universities would have to state a reason, but also supported the change by explaining that "90% of degrees remain open to both sexes and that single-gender courses were needed to create 'balance'." Zahedi said in response that Daneshjoo is "expected to present himself to parliament to explain this policy". |
*The policy change was criticized by some Iranian parliamentarians, such as [[Mohammad-Mehdi Zahedi]], head of the Iranian parliament’s education and research committee. However, [[Kamran Daneshjoo]], the science and higher education minister, gave a "guarded response" to the news, saying that the universities would have to state a reason, but also supported the change by explaining that "90% of degrees remain open to both sexes and that single-gender courses were needed to create 'balance'." Zahedi said in response that Daneshjoo is "expected to present himself to parliament to explain this policy".<ref>{{cite news |title=Tensions in the Iranian Leadership Over Excluding Women from Universities |author=[[Staff writer]] |url=http://www.theinternational.org/articles/235-tensions-in-the-iranian-leadership-over-e |newspaper=The International |date=August 27, 2012 |accessdate=August 27, 2012}}</ref> |
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*Iranian [[Nobel Peace Prize]] winner and human rights activist [[Shirin Ebadi]] wrote to the [[United Nations]] in protest of the restrictions, stating that the Iranian government is "trying to limit the active presence of women in society". She has asked for the issue to be added to "Iran's human rights dossier". The letter was then forwarded to UN special rapporteur for Iran Ahmad Shaheed and to the UN [[High Commissioner for Human Rights]] [[Navanethem Pillay]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Nobel laureate calls on UN to protect Iranian women|author=Staff writer|url=http://www.payvand.com/news/12/aug/1176.html |newspaper=[[Radio Zamaneh]]|date=21 August 2012|accessdate=21 August 2012}}</ref |
*Iranian [[Nobel Peace Prize]] winner and human rights activist [[Shirin Ebadi]] wrote to the [[United Nations]] in protest of the restrictions, stating that the Iranian government is "trying to limit the active presence of women in society". She has asked for the issue to be added to "Iran's human rights dossier". The letter was then forwarded to UN special rapporteur for Iran Ahmad Shaheed and to the UN [[High Commissioner for Human Rights]] [[Navanethem Pillay]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Nobel laureate calls on UN to protect Iranian women|author=Staff writer|url=http://www.payvand.com/news/12/aug/1176.html |newspaper=[[Radio Zamaneh]]|date=21 August 2012|accessdate=21 August 2012}}</ref> |
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====International==== |
====International==== |
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*In a press release on September 5th, the ''International Human Rights Network of Academies and Scholarly Societies'' stated that, "To impose, in the 21st century, such restrictions on the higher education of Iranian women … is appalling."<ref name="Science"/> |
*In a press release on September 5th, the ''International Human Rights Network of Academies and Scholarly Societies'' stated that, "To impose, in the 21st century, such restrictions on the higher education of Iranian women … is appalling."<ref name="Science"/> |
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* |
*Pakistani author and journalist [[Bina Shah]] in ''[[The Express Tribune]]'' compared the universities' policy change as being the hallmark of a [[Patriarchy|patriarchal system]], and that support of patriarchal attitudes and negative actions toward women should be seen as a "mental illness". In addition, she stated that feminism should be seen as a "way of encouraging and empowering women to rise and stand side-by-side with men as their partners, helpmates and friends."<ref>{{cite news |title=Understanding feminism |author=[[Bina Shah]]|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/424760/understanding-feminism/|newspaper=[[The Express Tribune]]|date=22 August 2012|accessdate=22 August 2012}}</ref> |
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*[[Haleh Esfandiari]], Director of the Middle East Program at the [[Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars]], suggested in a ''[[Chronicle of Higher Education]]'' article that women may now turn to the internet to receive [[online education]]s, as the women of Iran have shown "again and again they can come up with new ways of pursuing their goals".<ref>{{cite news|title=Why Is Iran Curtailing Female Education?|author=[[Haleh Esfandiari]] |url=http://chronicle.com/blogs/worldwise/why-is-iran-curtailing-female-education/30260|newspaper=[[The Chronicle of Higher Education]]|date=22 August 2012|accessdate=22 August 2012}}</ref> |
*[[Haleh Esfandiari]], Director of the Middle East Program at the [[Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars]], suggested in a ''[[Chronicle of Higher Education]]'' article that women may now turn to the internet to receive [[online education]]s, as the women of Iran have shown "again and again they can come up with new ways of pursuing their goals".<ref>{{cite news|title=Why Is Iran Curtailing Female Education?|author=[[Haleh Esfandiari]] |url=http://chronicle.com/blogs/worldwise/why-is-iran-curtailing-female-education/30260|newspaper=[[The Chronicle of Higher Education]]|date=22 August 2012|accessdate=22 August 2012}}</ref> |
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*Pakistani author and journalist [[Bina Shah]] in ''[[The Express Tribune]]'' compared the universities' policy change as being the hallmark of a [[Patriarchy|patriarchal system]], and that support of patriarchal attitudes and negative actions toward women should be seen as a "mental illness". In addition, she stated that feminism should be seen as a "way of encouraging and empowering women to rise and stand side-by-side with men as their partners, helpmates and friends."<ref>{{cite news |title=Understanding feminism |author=[[Bina Shah]]|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/424760/understanding-feminism/|newspaper=[[The Express Tribune]]|date=22 August 2012|accessdate=22 August 2012}}</ref> |
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* In ''[[The Journal of Turkish Weekly]]'', Betül Durmus considered how the change in university policy is a representation of the [[sexual division of labor]] and how it is a discriminatory ideology that seeks to "enslave" women, while idly "granting" them a few opportunities.<ref>{{cite news |title=Iran’s Ban on Higher Education of Women|author=Betül Durmus |url=http://www.turkishweekly.net/news/140839/iran%C3%ADs-ban-on-higher-education-of-women.html|newspaper=[[The Journal of Turkish Weekly]]|date=24 August 2012|accessdate=24 August 2012}}</ref> |
* In ''[[The Journal of Turkish Weekly]]'', Betül Durmus considered how the change in university policy is a representation of the [[sexual division of labor]] and how it is a discriminatory ideology that seeks to "enslave" women, while idly "granting" them a few opportunities.<ref>{{cite news |title=Iran’s Ban on Higher Education of Women|author=Betül Durmus |url=http://www.turkishweekly.net/news/140839/iran%C3%ADs-ban-on-higher-education-of-women.html|newspaper=[[The Journal of Turkish Weekly]]|date=24 August 2012|accessdate=24 August 2012}}</ref> |
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=== Current status === |
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As of 2014, course ban has not been implemented. |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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*[[Hawza]] |
*[[Hawza]] |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{reflist|colwidth=33em}} |
{{reflist|colwidth=33em}} |
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[[Category:Women's rights in Iran]] |
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[[Category:Women and education]] |
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[[Category:Education in Iran]] |
[[Category:Education in Iran]] |
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Revision as of 03:10, 20 February 2014
Iranian gender restrictions in education are sometimes implied by individual Iranian universities by making some fields available only to men or women. The most popular of such was 2012 proposal of course restrictions which sparked internal and international controversy.
Overview
As of 2006, women accounted for over half of university students in Iran[1] and 70% of Iran's science and engineering students.[2] In 2012, according to the UNESCO data, 2,191,409 out of 4,404,614 students in tertiary education were females, thus making fifth largest female enrollment after China, India, USA and Brazil. In engineering fields Iranian female enrollment ranked as first in the World, in science fields second (after USA)[3].
2011 segregation attempt
In early 2011, several Iranian universities announced that next academic year many first-year classes would be offered separately for men and women[4]. Kamran Daneshjoo, minister of science, said university administrators have been trying to implement directives from the Cultural Revolution Council to "protect Islamic dignity and morals"[4]. Proposition for segregating male and female students by few universities was halted in July by order of Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad[4][5].
2012 proposal of course ban
In early August 2012 it was reported that 36 universities in Iran have proposed cutting 77 fields of study from the female curriculum, making them male-only fields[6]. Such courses include empirical sciences, the human sciences, the arts and foreign languages[5]. Proposal has been defended by Jalal Tabatabai, university testing deputy, who rejected the gender discrimination at universities and said "Because of some considerations, it is possible that through their annual tests certain universities may admit only men or women to certain academic fields, but this does not mean that student admission to these fields is restricted to a specific gender because other universities follow their own admission policies and applicants can apply to the same fields in other universities"[5]. He added "The need to admit students to different fields is determined by universities and in principle this decision is made on the basis of the needs and necessities of society. Therefore, some fields in some years are only available to men or women"[5].
Specific universities gave various arguments in favor: Oil Industry University claimed the "lack of employer demand"[5], and Isfahan University stated that from those that obtained mining engineering degrees "98% of female graduates don't work in this area"[6]. Abolfazl Hassani, director general for the spread of education at the Ministry of science, research and technology, initially also supported idea with explanation: "Universities draw up plans for the future of higher education in the provinces and other parts of the country on the basis of the results they obtain from the entrance exams and the state of higher education in the past. They also consider their capacity and the needs of society". He added "Some fields are not very suitable for women’s nature such as agricultural machinery or mining, partly because of the hard work involved in them. Past experience shows that women do not become professionally active in these fields after they are admitted to these subjects and even after they graduate. This results in unemployment of graduates"[5]. Later, Hassani has changed his position: "Letters have been sent to the heads of these universities to enquire about the reasons for their decision. This is because if a university decides to admit only men or women to specific academic programs, it must first establish the necessary infrastructure for such a gender separation"[5]. Responses to the new restrictions have been so extensive inside Iran that even the Ministry of Education’s academic evaluation organization has taken a position against[5].
Media manipulations
Following proposal, series of sensationalist inflammatory and misleading headlines like Iran Bans Women From Universities or Iran Bans Women from College Courses were published in Western mainstream media[7][8]. Robert Tait, The Telegraph's Middle East correspondent based in Jerusalem (Israel), claimed that "women in Iran will be hereto banned from universities because of the worries of senior clerics"[8]. It was also falsely claimed "announcement of course ban" was made by Iran's government[7] or Ministry of Science, Research and Technology who actually criticized proposal[6], while it was actually individual university-level proposal[7].
Responses
Iran
- Seyed Abolfazl Hassani, a senior Iranian education official, stated in defense of the announcement that, "Some fields are not very suitable for women’s nature, such as agricultural machinery or mining, partly because of the hard work involved in them."[5]
- The policy change was criticized by some Iranian parliamentarians, such as Mohammad-Mehdi Zahedi, head of the Iranian parliament’s education and research committee. However, Kamran Daneshjoo, the science and higher education minister, gave a "guarded response" to the news, saying that the universities would have to state a reason, but also supported the change by explaining that "90% of degrees remain open to both sexes and that single-gender courses were needed to create 'balance'." Zahedi said in response that Daneshjoo is "expected to present himself to parliament to explain this policy".[9]
- Iranian Nobel Peace Prize winner and human rights activist Shirin Ebadi wrote to the United Nations in protest of the restrictions, stating that the Iranian government is "trying to limit the active presence of women in society". She has asked for the issue to be added to "Iran's human rights dossier". The letter was then forwarded to UN special rapporteur for Iran Ahmad Shaheed and to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navanethem Pillay.[10]
International
- The US State Department Spokesperson, Victoria Nuland, said that: "This decision represents a significant regression for women in Iran, who have outnumbered men in universities for over a decade, and will further restrict the ability of Iranian women to find employment." The State Department went on to release a statement urging Iran to "protect women’s rights" and to uphold its "own laws and international obligations which guarantee non-discrimination in all areas of life".[11]
- In a statement to the journal Science, UN spokesperson Martin Nesirky explained that, while on his trip to Iran for the Non-Aligned Movement meeting, Ban Ki-Moon said in a speech that Tehran should focus on the "need for greater access for women in Iran to a broader range of professions and fields of study".[12]
- On 22 September 2012, Human Rights Watch urged Iran to reverse the new policy, claiming that such restrictions are a violation of the international right to education for everyone without discrimination.[13]
Academics
- In a press release on September 5th, the International Human Rights Network of Academies and Scholarly Societies stated that, "To impose, in the 21st century, such restrictions on the higher education of Iranian women … is appalling."[12]
- Pakistani author and journalist Bina Shah in The Express Tribune compared the universities' policy change as being the hallmark of a patriarchal system, and that support of patriarchal attitudes and negative actions toward women should be seen as a "mental illness". In addition, she stated that feminism should be seen as a "way of encouraging and empowering women to rise and stand side-by-side with men as their partners, helpmates and friends."[14]
- Haleh Esfandiari, Director of the Middle East Program at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, suggested in a Chronicle of Higher Education article that women may now turn to the internet to receive online educations, as the women of Iran have shown "again and again they can come up with new ways of pursuing their goals".[15]
- In The Journal of Turkish Weekly, Betül Durmus considered how the change in university policy is a representation of the sexual division of labor and how it is a discriminatory ideology that seeks to "enslave" women, while idly "granting" them a few opportunities.[16]
Current status
As of 2014, course ban has not been implemented.
See also
References
- ^ Women graduates challenge Iran, Francis Harrison, BBC, September 26, 2006. Retrieved aSeptember 21, 2008.
- ^ Nature: News Feature
- ^ UNESCO: Table 15
- ^ a b c "Science Minister halts gender segregation in universities". Radio Zamaneh. 7 July 2011. Retrieved 17 July 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "77 Academic Subjects Announced Not Suitable for Women". Rooz Online. 7 August 2012. Retrieved 17 July 2013.
- ^ a b c "حذف دختران در ۷۷ رشته دانشگاهی". Tabnak. 9 August 2012. Retrieved 17 July 2013.
- ^ a b c "Did Iran Really Just Ban Women From Universities?". Huffington Post. 22 August 2012. Retrieved 17 July 2013.
- ^ a b "No, Iran Didn't Just Ban Women From Universities". Ajam Media. 22 August 2012. Retrieved 17 July 2013.
- ^ Staff writer (August 27, 2012). "Tensions in the Iranian Leadership Over Excluding Women from Universities". The International. Retrieved August 27, 2012.
- ^ Staff writer (21 August 2012). "Nobel laureate calls on UN to protect Iranian women". Radio Zamaneh. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
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