Nasser Taghavian
Sexual Harassment in the University and the “Women, Life, Freedom” Movement
Moderator: Saeed Paivandi
This discussion explores the relationship between the phenomenon of sexual harassment in Iranian universities and the “Women, Life, Freedom” movement, a prominent feminist and civil rights initiative that has gained significant traction among university students in Iran.
Research on sexual harassment in Iranian academic institutions reveals that it is widespread, although its prevalence and manifestation vary across campuses. Against this backdrop, the “Women, Life, Freedom” movement has sparked dynamic demonstrations and expressions among students, with university students often taking a leading role in these protests.
Notably, during the movement’s peak in October and November 2022, a striking and unprecedented wave of activism emerged within universities. Female students, challenging conventional norms, took to bold and controversial expressions of protest, often using slogans, gestures, and attire deemed inappropriate or even shocking by traditional academic standards.
This activism was not limited to coeducational institutions; even students at single-gender universities, such as Alzahra University, participated in these provocative demonstrations with remarkable courage and defiance.
Some within Iran’s academic feminist circles have described the language and behavior displayed by these women as “gendered” in a way that may appear to contradict the movement’s vision of liberating women.
This raises the question: Why would a movement centered on women’s freedom and dignity produce these contentious behaviors among some female students? And how should these behaviors be evaluated without falling back on pre-existing gendered stereotypes or compromising the ethical principles of the movement?
To address these questions, one must consider insights from research on sexual harassment in universities. Iranian female students often have a direct and painful awareness of sexual harassment in academic settings. They frequently identify the root causes of this problem within the university’s patriarchal academic structures and the broader patriarchal political system governing Iran.
Their behaviors and expressions during the “Women, Life, Freedom” movement, which some critics label as “gendered,” can be understood as a powerful rebellion against these patriarchal structures—both in Iran’s political landscape and within the academic system dominated by male professors.
In essence, the protests by female students represent a profound, generational revolt against entrenched patriarchal norms within Iranian society and academia. This uprising reflects their demand for personal freedom in their lives today, within and beyond the confines of the university.
The movement, therefore, is not merely about altering the political or academic framework; it is about asserting the right to live freely and authentically in the present, challenging norms that have traditionally confined women’s self-expression and autonomy. For more insight, you can refer to the original Persian version of this discussion.
