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“It is better to see once than hear a hundred times,” this proverb fits the images of Iranian women before and after the 1980 Cultural Revolution. It is hard to imagine that they once dressed as fashionably as Europeans, had the freedom of choice in clothing and makeup. How the image of an Iranian woman has changed from the beginning of the twentieth century to the present day - further in the review.
1900s
In the 1900s, Iranian women wore national attire, covered their heads with a white hijab scarf, and did not use a single ounce of makeup. A monobrow was considered a sign of beauty.
1910-1920s
By 1910, a social movement for women's rights emerged. Of course, this could not but affect the clothes of the Iranian women. By the early 1920s, women were still wearing the hijab, but now it was in vibrant hues, with a wave of hair underneath.
1930s
In the 1930s, the 34th Shah of Iran, Reza Pahlavi, announced that he was "modernizing" his country. In 1935, Persia became known as Iran, and the ruler issued a decree to remove the veil. This was supposed to be a huge step forward, but women were not ready for such a radical change. They believed that the absence of the veil humiliated them.
1940s
In the early 1940s, Reza Khan abdicated the throne, and the law on the removal of the veil was no longer in force. However, the wearing of the veil was now seen as an indicator of low class and a backward worldview, as well as an obstacle to normal work in the workplace.
Now the appearance of a fashionable Iranian woman was no different from a European or an American woman: wavy hair, makeup on her face, knee-deep dresses.
1950-1960s
During the 1950s and 1960s, the dichotomy (division) of women continued to be observed in Iran. The image of the representative of the upper class fully reflected the fashion trends of the West, while Iranian women of more modest incomes proudly wore the veil.
Fashionistas lavishly used eyeliner, and high hairstyles were built on their heads. In the 1960s, women gained the right to vote, and in 1968, Farrokhru Parsa was appointed Iran's Minister of Education.
1970s
In the 1970s, Iranian women were granted the right to divorce. At the same time, girls wore short skirts, blouses with a deep neckline, open swimwear. They took part in beauty contests with pleasure. Looking at the covers of fashion magazines of that time, it is difficult to imagine that these are liberated Muslim women, because by the end of the 1970s the situation had changed dramatically.
1980s
In 1978-79. the Islamic revolution took place in Iran. Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi fled and was replaced by the spiritual leader Ayatollah Khomeini. In 1980, the so-called Cultural Revolution took place. Educational institutions were closed for an indefinite period, the Minister of Education Farrohru Parsa was executed, and the Shiite theologians were given the task of subordinating the consciousness of the people to their will.
Under the new regime, women had a very hard time. They were deprived of many of their rights and ordered to wear a black veil and hijab headscarf again. Those who dared to go out without this garment were often stoned to death.
1990-2000th
After 10 years, women were allowed to wear multi-colored hijabs, their hair became slightly visible. In 2009, the Green Revolution took place. Women took an active part in it, hoping that they would receive more rights.
2010-th
By 2010, some progress was made in the manner of dressing: instead of the hijab, Iranians began to wear a regular headscarf, many of them wearing trousers and jeans.
Photos of Afghanistan taken half a century ago also do not fit with today's reality.
In the 1960s, harmony and belief in a bright future reigned in this country.
