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Women Are Central to Iran’s Pro-Democracy Movement

In the ongoing struggle for democracy in Iran, women have emerged as some of the most influential and unifying voices, championing secularism, equality and inclusive governance. Over the past 150 years, Iranian women have consistently played key roles in the country’s major political movements, from the Constitutional Revolution of 1906 and the oil nationalization movement in the 1950s, to the 1979 Revolution and the student uprisings of the early 2000s. Today, they are again at the forefront of a grassroots democratic movement, leading campaigns that directly challenge both the Islamic Republic and entrenched patriarchy across the political spectrum.

The most emblematic of these recent efforts is the Woman, Life, Freedom movement, ignited by the nationwide protests of 2022 following the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody after she was detained for allegedly violating the law requiring women to wear a headscarf. This slogan is more than a rallying cry. It represents a philosophy that transcends gender, class and ideology. It has brought men and women into a shared camp fighting for a democratic Iran built on secularism, freedom and equality for all, regardless of gender, ethnicity or religious belief.

Though sparked by the popular outrage over Amini’s death, this contemporary movement builds upon a long and rich history of women’s activism in Iran. During the Constitutional Revolution, women organized and wrote anonymously in underground publications demanding national sovereignty and education rights. In the 1960s and 1970s, Iranian women experienced significant legal and social advancements under the Pahlavi monarchy. They gained the right to vote in 1963 and were granted greater protections in 1967under the Family Protection Law, which curtailed male privileges in divorce and child custody, while raising the minimum age of marriage. Women also entered politics and public life in increasing numbers during this period, with notable milestones such as the appointment of the first female Cabinet minister, Farrokhroo Parsa, as minister of education in 1968.

These developments laid the groundwork for an emerging feminist consciousness and positioned women as active agents in shaping Iran’s modern identity. Following the 1979 Islamic Revolution, women resisted the imposition of mandatory veiling and discriminatory laws. And in the years thereafter, they often formed the backbone of Iran’s civil society through informal networks, cultural initiatives and quiet but powerful activism.

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In recent years, women’s grassroots campaigns have tackled urgent and deeply rooted issues. Campaigns like the “One Million Signatures for Gender Equality” drive in 2006 and the “No to compulsory Hijab for women” initiative in 2017, as well as movements seeking to stop honor killings and end child marriage, among others, have gained traction across the country, raising awareness among women and men about gender discrimination. Grounded in daily realities rather than rigid ideology, these movements have made women’s activism especially resonant with Iran’s new generation: Many younger Iranians have grown disillusioned by political dogma and are instead drawn to the practical, inclusive and values-driven leadership modeled by women activists, with the most emblematic of these recent efforts being the Woman, Life, Freedom movement.

The Iranian women’s movement today offers a blueprint for a future democratic Iran, one where politics is reshaped by civic engagement, inclusive leadership and the persistent struggle for justice.

What sets Iranian women’s activism apart is its potential to bridge divides in a fragmented opposition. While much of the political opposition, both inside and outside the country, remains fractured along ideological lines, women have consistently pushed for coalitions that prioritize shared democratic goals over partisan rivalry. This activism tends to be rooted in pragmatism, making it more flexible, solution-oriented and appealing across generational and political divides.

Despite their central role, however, women still face considerable resistance not only from the Islamic Republic’s theocratic regime, but also from segments of the opposition that have yet to fully embrace women’s leadership as essential to the country’s democratic future. Some exiled political groups, as well as traditionalist figures, continue to marginalize women’s voices or regard gender equality as secondary to regime change. This attitude not only undermines the democratic credentials of these groups but also overlooks the political reality that any sustainable movement for democracy in Iran must be inclusive and representative.

However, challenges to effective activism also exist within women’s groups themselves. While many are grassroots-driven and deeply committed, the movement as a whole must continue to invest in cross-group collaboration, strategic unity and coalition-building to amplify its impact. Building solidarity among diverse women’s organizations—from urban activists to provincial advocates, from secular feminists to religious traditional women—will be vital for sustaining long-term democratic change.

This process of collaboration is not without precedent. In the aftermath of the 2022 protests, numerous women-led organizations and activists coordinated across platforms and geographies to document human rights abuses, support detainees and advocate for international pressure. These collective efforts demonstrated the capacity for Iranian women to lead with vision and resilience, often filling the leadership vacuum left by divided or co-opted political groups.

Iranian women are also harnessing digital technologies, storytelling, visual arts and film to amplify their voices and advocate for change. One notable example was the “My Stealthy Freedom” campaign initiated by journalist Masih Alinejad in 2014. This online movement encouraged Iranian women to share photos of themselves without headscarves, to protest the compulsory hijab laws. The campaign attracted significant international attention and was instrumental in highlighting women’s rights issues in Iran. In the realm of cinema, Iranian women filmmakers have been at the forefront of depicting women’s struggles and resistance. And artists have used the visual arts to explore themes of gender and repression in Iranian society.

Meanwhile, through transnational networks, Iranian women are building solidarity across borders, while gaining access to resources, visibility and moral support. However, it is crucial that international allies engage with these movements respectfully, supporting them without co-opting or instrumentalizing women’s agency.

The Iranian women’s movement today offers a blueprint for a future democratic Iran, one where politics is reshaped by civic engagement, inclusive leadership and the persistent struggle for justice. In a region often marked by authoritarianism and gender apartheid, Iranian women are not only fighting for their rights—they are redefining what democracy could look like.

That is growing all the more urgent, as the Iranian regime has already lost popular legitimacy among broad swathes of the population. Combined with the myriad internal and external challenges it faces, that has prompted many observers to begin considering the potential for a change in regime, with some arguing such a critical juncture is imminent.

Should it arrive, international observers, policymakers and democracy advocates must recognize the centrality of women in shaping the country’s political future. Their vision of a secular, democratic Iran, free from oppression based on gender, religion or ethnicity, may well be the most unifying and forward-looking project in the country’s fractured political landscape. Supporting this vision means amplifying women’s voices, respecting their autonomy and investing in their leadership—not only as a moral imperative but as a strategic pathway to lasting and sustainable democratic transformation.

Fariba Parsa holds a doctorate in social science, specializing in Iranian politics with a focus on political Islam, democracy and human rights. She is the author of “Fighting for Change in Iran: The Women, Life, Freedom Philosophy against Political Islam.” She is also the founder and president of Women’s E-Learning in Leadership (WELL), a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering women in Iran and Afghanistan through online leadership education and training.