Economic Policies of Iran and the Status Development of Women after the Islamic Revolution

The study investigates the intellectual and social foundations of managing society, with a specific focus on the role of women, and how these foundations have evolved over the four decades following the Islamic revolution in Iran. During this period, the demands and efforts of Iranian women in terms of employment and improving their economic status have undergone significant transformations. The importance of women's employment and their participation in various spheres as a means of generating income outside the family structure has allowed women to break away from traditional sources of authority. This shift has also provided women with a mediating role through which they assess themselves and their surrounding environment. While the broad outlines of economic policies have been outlined in long-term strategic documents over the past four decades, there have been various instances where governments have made substantial changes to previous policies in response to the evolving demands of the population. The study aims to address the question of which factors have influenced the changes in women's economic status and the direction in which these changes have occurred, considering the fluctuating trends in women's status and economic conditions since the Islamic revolution in Iran.

Method and theoretical framework:

The authors of this study have employed Anthony Giddens' theoretical framework of structuration, aimed at transcending the dichotomy of structure and agency, in order to explore the evolution of women's economic and occupational status within the context of a dynamic and historical process involving the political structure and the female community. Giddens' structuration theory focuses on establishing logical connections between structure and agency. He seeks to develop a theory that effectively integrates the importance of structures, which are essential for social and political interactions, with a recognition of the will, adaptability, autonomy, and agency of individual actors. According to this framework, the production and reproduction of society is the result of skillful actions by social actors. These actors construct structures, but they do not do so entirely by choice; instead, their actions are influenced by the status and circumstances they directly encounter, as well as by the historical legacies passed down to them. Therefore, Giddens conceptualizes the relationship between structure and agency as an ongoing and dynamic historical process. By adopting the theoretical framework of Giddens' structuration, the study underscores the significance of interactions between two essential components: the human element (represented by women) and the structural factors (such as the economy and politics). This framework offers valuable insights into a deeper understanding of the developments in this particular period of Iran's history.

During and after the Islamic revolution and the Iran-Iraq war, Iranian women received encouragement from political leaders to participate in the public sphere and contribute to solving societal issues. However, their involvement was challenged by gender segregation policies and laws that restricted women's participation. In response to these structural limitations, women took proactive steps to overcome these barriers and began influencing economic policies as informed agents. Over time and in subsequent periods, they managed to change opposing views in their favor. Notably, during the Iran-Iraq war, women played significant roles and effectively convinced many opponents of their presence in the public sphere. Following the war, the Iranian government recognized the need to rebuild the economy and realized that changes in collective models and the reduction of barriers obstructing women's participation were essential. This required creating a conducive environment for women's presence in society and their active involvement in the reconstruction of Iran. The government led by Hashemi (commonly referred to as the "constructive government") made efforts to empower, train, and employ women, particularly in specialized, managerial, and entrepreneurial roles.Subsequently, during the tenure of the reformist government, it was acknowledged that the unsatisfactory status of women resulted from structural limitations and the lack of agency. The government identified issues such as low self-confidence, self-esteem, and theprevailing culture of masculism as significant problems. In response, it developed a master plan to empower women, support their rights, and promote "gender justice," especially in terms of employment.With Ahmadinejad's presidency, there was a shift toward promoting an Islamic state and reinforcing religious values in society. He believed that women, by excelling in their roles as daughters, wives, mothers, and sisters, could exert influence over the entire world and society. Although the third and fourth development plans aimed to encourage women's participation in the public sphere while acknowledging their important roles in the family, the fifth development plan linked women's development to their family roles and, to some extent, diminished provisions related to their participation, equal opportunities, employment, and civil institutions that were previously considered in the third and fourth plans.When the moderate government, led by Hassan Rouhani, came to power, it adopted a similar approach to the constructive and reformist governments regarding women's employment. This government emphasized strengthening women's status, treating their scientific, research, political, social, and economic talents equally, and addressing women's economic concerns in the sixth development plan. It also focused on sustainable employment for women and worked to reduce their unemployment, especially among educated women.

Drawing from Giddens' theory of structuration, this study elucidated that the changes and advancements in women's economic and occupational status were the results of a dynamic and historical process occurring between the political structure and the women's community. Within this dialectical process, the women's community acquired knowledge influenced by structural decisions, and this knowledge played a vital role in reproducing suitable structures conducive to the enhancement of women's employment status.The trajectory of these changes signifies a reduction in the gender gap and an increase in women's utilization of their human and citizenship rights. As a result, it is recommended that women's fundamental human rights be incorporated into decisions and macro-policies to mitigate the financial and emotional costs associated with their protests.