120 Years of Women’s Activism in Iran and Afghanistan

By: Jasmine Hernandez

The Gender Equality Initiative in International Affairs (GEIA) hosted an event in celebration of Women’s History Month. Dr. Shirley Graham, director of GEIA, collaborated with the Institute of Middle East Studies (IMES) to welcome two distinguished speakers to the Elliott School of International Affairs. Dr. Halima Kazem from Stanford University and Dr. Kelly J. Shannon from IMES, discussed the importance and often overlooked history of women's activism in Afghanistan and Iran, highlighting the strength and resilience of these women.

Dr. Halima Kazem’s Presentation on Women’s Activism in Afghanistan

Dr. Kazem educated the attendees on Afghanistan's history through the lens of women’s activism. She explained that Afghanistan is the only country to have interacted with all three major empires of the 20th and 21st centuries: British, Soviet, and American. Each of these powers imposed its own gendered agenda on the country. However, Afghan women were never passive during these transitions. They consistently challenged patriarchy and actively shaped political developments in their country.

Dr. Kazem emphasized that Afghan women’s contributions have long been overlooked in historical records, despite their significant roles. She highlighted several influential historical figures, including Rabia Balkhi, a 10th-century poet and possible saint; Zarghuna Ana, an 18th-century advisor to King Ahmad Shah Durrani; and Malalai of Maiwand, a 19th-century war heroine known for reportedly rallying Afghan troops who were losing during a battle against the British. While the historical accuracy of Malalai’s story is uncertain, it remains a powerful symbol of female resistance in Afghanistan.

Dr. Kazem then outlined five major feminist periods in Afghanistan. The first began in the 1920s under Queen Soraya, who fought to advance reforms on equal rights and women's education. She removed her veil and was photographed wearing a hat in public, a radical act at the time. She also used her writing talents to challenge societal expectations of women.

The second period occurred in the 1960s and 1970s, when women began participating in the political process after the 1964 Constitution. The 1964 Constitution included a provision that allowed the queen to take power if the king died, an idea that was especially progressive for its time. The third period took place in the late 1970s and early 1980s, when radical women's groups such as the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan resisted both the Afghan communist regime and the Soviet forces. Women during this time were known to carry weapons under their clothing. The fourth period followed the events of September 11 and spanned the years of the U.S.-backed Republic. Dr. Kazem described this as the “largest and most expensive gender project in history”, with major international investment in women’s empowerment from 2001 to 2021.

Dr. Kazem concluded with the current and fifth period under Taliban rule, which she described as a system of gender apartheid. Despite oppressive restrictions, Afghan women continue to resist through the powerful slogan “Bread, Work, Freedom.”

Dr. Kelly J. Shannon Presentation on Women’s Activism in Iran

Dr. Kelly J. Shannon presented an extensive history of women's rights activism in Iran, tracing back over 120 years. She began with the Constitutional Revolution from 1905 to 1911, which marked the first significant involvement of Iranian women in political activism. Despite the suppression following Russia’s 1911 invasion, Iranian women’s activism continued. Dr. Shannon described the 1920s as a period of feminist maturation. After World War I, political openings emerged and were influenced by women’s movements in Turkey and Egypt. Iranian women began advocating for voting rights, education, healthcare, and the end of child marriage.

Dr. Shannon discussed how the 1925 coup led to the state taking control of women’s rights organizations under Reza Shah’s autocratic rule. Following the 1953 coup, women’s activism was again absorbed into the Pahlavi regime’s modernization agenda, eliminating independent organizing. However, some feminists, including members of the Shah’s family, continued to push for reform from within the system.

Dr. Shannon emphasized the importance of the Women’s Organization of Iran, which operated from 1966 to 1979. Its members traveled across the country to speak with women, using interviews to inform state-sponsored changes. As a result, laws were passed guaranteeing equal pay, access to healthcare, and the right to hold public office.

Following the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Iranian women’s rights regressed. Women were required to wear the hijab, female judges were dismissed, and policies placed women in a second-class status. Dr. Shannon concluded with the “Women, Life, Freedom” movement, sparked by the 2022 death of Mahsa Amini for not properly wearing her hijab, which continued activism in Iran.

The Role of the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda in Women's Activism in Iran and Afghanistan

During the Q and A, I asked the presenters about the role of the Women, Peace, and Security agenda in supporting women's activism in Iran and Afghanistan, specifically whether it has made a significant impact. Dr. Shannon expressed skepticism about the practical effectiveness of the framework, especially within Iran. Drawing on her earlier research, she explained how women’s rights became institutionalized in United States foreign policy during the Clinton administration and how that effort evolved into the Women, Peace, and Security agenda. While international frameworks often emphasize that women’s inclusion improves democracy and peacebuilding, she noted that such arguments have had little influence on movements inside Iran. Iranian activists focus on basic human rights, not justifying women’s rights through broader political goals.

Dr. Shannon further explained that Iran’s ideological regime is unlikely to be persuaded by data or evidence that gender equality benefits society. Instead, Iranian women use human rights rhetoric and international recognition to push for change. She referenced recent efforts by women’s labor and human rights groups calling for a truth and reconciliation commission. She added that while the Women, Peace, and Security agenda may be useful with some Western governments, it can also be limiting because it treats women’s rights as valuable only when they serve other outcomes. For example, she mentioned how the Clinton administration decided to push for what is now known as the WPS agenda because it was what would win him more votes amongst American voters

Dr. Kazem built on this by emphasizing accountability as essential. She highlighted cross-border solidarity between Iranian and Afghan women, particularly in education, and stressed the importance of collective, internationally recognized tools to address gender-based oppression.

Further Reading

Amnesty International – What Happened to Mahsa Zhina Amini? 

Peace for Asia – Afghan Women Strive for Basic Human Rights and Equality

CNN – Iran Cracks Down on Protests One Year After Mahsa Amini’s Death
Stimson Center – The Status of Women’s Rights in the Middle East
Humanitarian Practice Network – Women-Led Initiatives in the Middle East and North Africa
Human Rights Watch – End Curbs on Women’s Mobility in the Middle East and North Africa
Arab Center Washington DC – Women’s Rights and State Feminism in the Arab World
Wilson Center – Publications on Women’s Rights in the Middle East and North Africa