IRANIAN WOMEN
Woman power is alive in Iran…and this power is historically and culturally ingrained as “archaeological evidence suggests that in pre Islamic times (i.e before 7 Century BC) women in Iran were able (unlike much of the western world at that time) to work, own, sell and lease property… paid taxes…managed work sites and held-high level military positions” (Lonely Planet, 2017). Today, despite the setbacks of the Islamic revolution of 1979, Iranian women remain fiercely assertive and active members of society and, in many ways, they are the brave pioneers of social progress in Iran. Contrary to popular misconceptions, Iranian women can drive (and even race cars professionally) work and run businesses, vote, buy property and sit in parliament and partake in a wide variety of sports including extreme sports. More women attend university in Iran than men and by 2017 made up 70% of Iran’s science and engineering students. Aside from their dominance in academia, the women of Iran are also boldly making waves and pushing boundaries in the fields of sport, art, fashion, film, music, business, aviation and beyond. Meet just a few of the talented, courageous and inspiring women of Iran…
Meet Captain Neshat Jahandari and her first officer Forouz Firouzi. On 14 October 2019 they piloted a round Tehran to Mashhad passenger flight (166/177 passengers) - making them Iran’s first women to have piloted a passenger airliner without male assistance. Be sure to turn the subtitles on. Source: Youtube, 2019
Maryam Mirzakhani - the Iranian mathematician who in 2014 became the first ever woman to win the Field Medal, the most prestigious prize in Mathematics. A short documentary exploring her life and groundbreaking work.
Jale Amoozgar Ph.D. from Sorbonne University in Iranistics. Iranologist, Writer, expert of the Middle Persian language, chairman of the department of Ancient Iranian Culture and Languages at Tehran University. Be sure to turn on the subtitles.
The Conference channel presents a talk from Iranian Entrepreneur Nazanin Daneshvar, founder of Iranian discount site Takhfifan. Source: Youtube, 2016
Iranian rock-climber Elnaz Rekabi in action this October, 2022. Source: YouTube (The Guardian), 2022
Vocativ meets Fatemeh Akrami, Iran's first professional female skydiver to dive with a wingsuit. Source: Youtube, 2018
Live interview for BBC News regarding the legacy of Iranian Mathematician Maryam Mirzakhani - the first woman to win the prestigious Fields Medal. Source: Youtube, 2017
2019 UK Channel 4 report on female truckers in Iran. Source: Youtube, 2019
BBC News report on the rise of female ‘Gamers’ in Iran. Source: Youtube, 2020
Vocativ report on woman’s armwrestling in Iran. Source: Youtube, 2017
2015 Refinery29 report profiling Iranian artist, Samira. Part of the ‘Refinery29 Tehran Unveiled’ docuseries. Source: Youtube, 2015
2008 CNN report on young Iranian fashion designers.
Karate 1 Dubai 2019 Kata Final: Iran vs. Italy. Source: Youtube, 2019
2017 France 24 Now report on Iranian women in sport. Source: Youtube, 2017
2015 Indian TV station RSTV interview with Iranian raleigh racer, Laleh Seddigh. Source: Youtube, 2015
Behnaz Shafiei, Iran's path-breaking female motorbike champion.
2012 RT report on Mahrouz Saei, Iran's top female Taekwondo fighter. Source: Youtube, 2012 (we need help adding subtitles to this video)
Women of Iran Documentary: Graduated from Australia's TAFE College, Niki Miri returns to Iran to follow her passion in designing and making Iranian-tailored dresses. She is now an entrepreneur trying to expand her work. Source: Youtube, 2016
2015 Refinery29 report profiling Iranian Wushu fighter, Elahe. Part of the ‘Refinery29 Tehran Unveiled’ docuseries. Source: Youtube, 2015
Sport Scene TV report on the Iranian women’s national Canoe water-polo team. Source: Youtube, 2012
2015 Refinery29 report profiling Iranian musician and film maker Ghazal. Part of the Refinery29 Tehran Unveiled docuseries. Source: Youtube, 2015
2009 Reuters report on Iranian fashion designers. Source: Youtube, 2009
2009 Al Jazeera report on Women’s rugby in Iran. Source: Youtube, 2009.
2015 Refinery29 report profiling Iranian fashion designer, Sadaf. Part of the ‘Refinery29 Tehran Unveiled’ docuseries. Source: Youtube, 2015
Iran Wire presents Iranian Taekwondo champion Kimia Alizadeh (Kimia sadly defected to Europe in 2020). Source: Youtube, 2015
Women of Iran documentary, looking at the life and work of Dr. Soheila Kordestani, internationally renowned Iranian researcher and entrepreneur. Source: Youtube, 2018
2014 France24 report on the rise of Parkour amongst women in Tehran. Source: Youtube, 2014
A short Mic piece on Farnaz Esmaeilzadeh, Iran’s speedy female rock-climber. Source: Youtube, 2016
Iranian-American Katayoun Khosrowyar presents a Tedx talk in Iran (Kish) on female empowerment through sport in Iran. Source: Youtube, 2015
A 2015 report on pioneering Iranian women entrepreneurs - produced by the Association of Iranian Women Entrepreneurs. Source: Youtube, 2015
Vice News introduction to Iranian photojournalist and filmmaker Gelareh Kiazand - with glimpses into her current reporting and filmmaking in Afghanistan. Source: Youtube, 2014
Fatemeh Moghimi - one of Iran's most important entrepreneurs.
2019 DW News report on the Iranian under 19 ‘s womens football team and coach. Source: Youtube, 2019
2007 Journeyman Pictures report on the brave and bold Iranian filmmaker Tehmineh Milani. Source, Youtube, 2008. Make sure to also visit our CINEMA page for more on other inspiring female directors in Iran.