The issue of women’s rights was notably absent in Iran’s presidential elections. It’s not until one discovers something useful the most conservative candidate Hojjat Al-Islam Ebrahim’s statement that his party is going to improve the dignity of women in the home, since women must have the right to be “good mothers and wives”.

This was a change from the July 2009 presidential election where two candidates who were reformists backed women’s rights.

With the President Hassan Rouhani has been reelected with large margins for a fourth term of four years It is important to think about what this victory will mean to Iranian women. Rouhani is popular with the country’s urban populace, middle class, youth as well as women..

Iranian activists have tried to bring up the issue during the time of elections. On May 6, a couple of days before the elections about 180 women comprising journalists, intellectuals, as well as veteran activists including Noushin Ahmadi Khorasani Minoo Mortazi Fatemeh Sadeghi and Fatemeh Govarayee, released a statement detailing their concerns to the next President of Iran.

They include an increase in women’s participation within the nation’s economic work, the removal of laws that discriminate against women, more women’s participation in sports, as well as a quota that reserves minimum 30% of ministerial posts for women.

It was not widely recognized, in part due to the time leading up to the election were marked by a clampdown on the movement, with an increase in detentions and arrests. trial and lengthy jail sentences.

There Is No Space For Women

The candidates all made promises regarding making jobs available and cutting down on the rate of poverty in their campaign, however, the economic, social and political standing of women was not even mentioned.

In the May 11 study from the International Civil Society Action Network of the first television election contest, it was one female-related question, and a response time of two minutes allocated. The question was centered around women’s role in the home.

In another discussion, Sardar Ghalibaf who is Tehran’s mayor and former presidential candidate, who is a close ally of Raisi addressed single mothers and the difficulties in raising children with disabilities. However, he emphasized the need to support the kids, without noting the fact that mothers need assistance in the form of financial aid to achieve this.

In an interview with the journal “Shahrvand”, Parvaneh Salahshouri, the female member of parliament from Tehran was asked “How is it that social issues are addressed but the demands of half of society are not taken into consideration?”

Salahshouri criticized the state-owned broadcasting organization, but her statements also pointed out candidates and suggested that, by restricting their discussion of issues pertaining to gender exclusively within the home, men showed a lack of respect for the actual issues faced by women.

Discrimination Against Women

The discrimination against women is common throughout Iran. Iranian women are not granted control over their children. mandatory veiling remains in place and domestic violence isn’t adequately prohibited through laws. In the case of inheritances, a male has the right to double more than a female.

Iranian women have high levels of education. They comprised more than 60% of all college students. They are still denied access to work.

While official statistics for unemployment are in the range of 12percent but the figure could go get as as high to 20% for women.

Female employees are paid lower than male colleagues, in particular factories as well as many women have to work more than one job just to pay the bills.

The number of females with low socioeconomic status are turning to sexual jobs to make more money in and both in online as well as on the street.

Things that are considered routine in other regions of the globe, like taking part in sports are not allowed for women in Iran. The women aren’t allowed to play in the same stadiums as men, despite although Iranian women athletes have enjoyed notable results in international sports events.

Small But Steady Wins

There are some shining areas. Iranian businesswomen have been successful recently, excelling in diverse areas including knowledge-based recycling and corporate services to the field of animal grooming.

In the realm of politics as well women are gaining ground. The parliamentary election of May 2016 was a success. elections, 17 women were selected to be part of the 290-member group), an historic record for the Islamic Republic.

The city council elections of this year held on the same day the presidential elections, witnessed an overwhelming participation of women candidates and voters there was an increase in women running for office of almost 6percent over last year’s elections.

Women were able to compete even in smaller cities. Images of female candidates were shared widely across Iranian Social media. City councils play a significant role in Tehran’s urban planning and city lifestyle, and activists have advised women to be involved.

A high percentage of women are voting and the high proportion of women who are qualified to serve who are elected to city councils, may provide women with the chance to transform their daily life. However, they’ll need the assistance from the authorities in order in order to achieve this.

Rouhani’s Failed Efforts

Are Rouhani the one they want? President Rouhani is thought to be to be a moderate in the religion of Islam, in addition, in 2013, he stated that he was going to be able to open political and social areas to women. The year 2014 was the first time President Rouhani went so that he criticized the discrimination against women and promote the equality of women.

These statements are in conflict with the views that are made by the supreme leader Ali Khamenei, who believes that women must be engaged in household work and Iran should not accept Western opinions regarding gender.

The first time he was president, Rouhani appointed women in cabinet and ministerial positions. Vice president of women and family issues Shahindokht Molaverdi has utilized this forum to contribute to the debate on gender equality in the country through condemning the hardliners who swore at female fans in a match between men and women.

At an international conference on women and their development on the 7th of February President Rouhani stated, “We should believe in women’s presence and capabilities and know that our country’s women can have roles in science, knowledge, economy, politics, and arts just like men.”

However, many Iranian women believe Rouhani has not been able to meet their needs. In public, sexism in public spaces, discrimination against women, and even morality police continue to be a problem as do the President, who did not speak up as women activists were detained during the presidential campaign.

However, Rouhani has a limited space to maneuver. The most powerful hardliners have control of crucial Iranian institutions of power, including those is the Guardian Council, with the ultimate decision on the what is considered to be Islamic principles and laws and has the power to veto legislation. The majority of conservatives of the parliament can also block radical reforms from being passed.

Now, the question is how Rouhani is going to use his new term to explore new possibilities and fulfill Iranian women’s dreams.