Contemporary Women s Movement in Iran

Womenʹs movement in Iran started in late nineteenth and early twentiethcenturies under the influence of modernism imported from Europe. Thismovement has two main trends in Qajar and Pahlavi periods: (a) westernoriented and (b) Islamic stream. During Qajar rule both trends were not wellformed, They acted under the influence of main socio-political social movementflows of the society. In Pahlavi era western oriented movement was promotedby the state and the Islamic stream marginalized. In the first and second decadesof Islamic Republic time the Islamists were baked by the government. In thethird decade of the revolutionary government, open atmosphere of the societycauses four groups to be recognized: (a) a western oriented group, (b) a.modernized Islamic group, (c) a traditional Islamic group, and 9d) a progressiveIslamist group. This paper will review the historical path of the movement inbrief and will introduce the four competing trends of the day.