Women, Life, Freedom: Unveiling Western Perceptions of Iranian Women

Abstract

Women have participated in uprisings across time and place and are at the forefront of a full-blown feminist revolution in Iran today. The Women, Life, Freedom protests were sparked by the death of a young girl for improper veiling following arrest by the Morality Police in September 2022. This moment and the actions leading up to it have drawn attention to the veil and triggered a global conversation – including misconceptions – surrounding those who don or attempt to discard it. This thesis addresses these misconceptions then analyzes and challenges Western perceptions of Iranian women. Through a compilation and analysis of existing literature and the use of unique revelatory visual evidence, I posit that that veil’s meaning has changed in tandem with Iran’s political evolution: from symbolizing modernity during the twentieth century, to representing modesty, misogyny, and patriarchy following the 1979 Islamic Revolution.