A Study of the Discourse of Imam Khomeini about Woman

As a symbol of dynamic Shia jurisprudence Imam Khomeini who issued decrees on the basis of requirements of time and space has certain stances on women as well. If the text of his speeches and writing are analyzed out of context, the reader may misunderstand him. Imam Khomeini’s viewpoints have undergone change depending on the prevailing conditions in the society. These changes can be studied in four certain historical stages. During the first two stages which is the peak of Pahlavi’s power, the Imam opposed political participation of women in political and social affairs due to the problems such participation would created for the women and during the second two stages which coincided with the revolutionary movement and the first decade of the revolution, Imam encouraged women’s participation in the social-political affairs. The present article is an attempt to study the reasons for this change.