Sexual Politics in Iran - Research Paper Example

Sexual Politics in Iran Being an Arabic nation, Iran is one of the countries in the world with the highest level of conservativeness in terms of both religious and political culture (Vakil 84). Over the past seven decades, Iran has undergone massive revolution especially in the sexual aspect in order to offer liberation to many who deserve it. In this respect, it is important to mention the fact that sexual politics in Iran has elicited various reactions across the gender, religious, and social strata for many reasons (Rieffer-Flanagan 111). Perhaps one of the many reasons as to why sexual politics is so critical in Iran is the fact that the nation is guided by Islamic laws that tend to lower the status of women in the society particularly when it comes to gender and sexual roles (Mahdavi 71). Even as modernity continues to encroach into various parts of the Arab world, Iran has stood firm on some of the sexual issues regarding her citizens, forging a unique style of politics in the sexual context that attaches some key Islamic laws into it. Initially, Iran was dominated with pre-modern practices that included, slave and concubine marriage, a phenomenon that indicated power in the male gender (Shahidian 146). At later stages during the infringement of the western cultures in Iran, certain aspects of the Iranian sexual politics were abolished due to their oppressive nature and this paved the way to reforms in the marriage sector and the redefinition of sexual purity (Afary 345). Fundamentally, Iran is an Islamic nation led by an Islamic president and therefore all the laws regarding marriage and sexual roles have to be viewed from the Islamic context (Vakil 51). With this in mind, it is worthy to note that gender disparity and sexual oppression are one of the most significant challenges affecting the Islamic nation especially in the wake of modernity where the world operates as a global unit (Rieffer-Flanagan 121). Surprisingly, Iran is steadily losing the political ground to the opposition that has come strongly, especially in the pats one decade against oppressive regimes (Shahidian 146). Through the people who are eager to get change, the opposition is working round the clock in order to ensure that the country gives much significance to sexual policies as it does to the religious ones. In this regard, it is important to note that Iran has been a stringent follower of the Islamic laws (Afary 345). In a country dominated by neo-colonialism, religious, and patriarchal views, sexual policies have been kept at the back for many years to maintain the status quo (I?lkkaracan 28). For many Iranians including the womenfolk, the existing laws and policies regarding the sexual context are not only draconian but also punitive (Afary 382). This means that the sexual laws are meant to instill heavy penalties on the defaulters to the extent of bordering on massive human rights violations. Although the west has always agitated for reforms in the sexual laws of the Arabic country, it is evident that several key forces have strongly opposed the move claiming it is a recipe for the dilution of their ideals (Vakil 84). Perhaps it is crucial to highlight the major tenets of the Arabic sexual laws, particularly those pertaining to Iran as a state, and the political influence on the sexual laws (Rieffer-Flanagan 111). Essentially, the sexual politics of Iran is marred with pre-modern practices that encompass the ancient marriages whereby the bride has to be identified after birth. This actually means that a man could book his bride right from childbirth and therefore sexual purity was a matter of great significance (Shahidian 133). Once a woman has been booked for a particular man, she is bound to marry the man in her maturity no matter the circumstances. In the modern world, this appears as a significant affront to the female gender that deserves reviewing (Afary 355). Pre-modern practices Another aspect of the Iranian sexual laws that perhaps does not resonate well with a vast majority of the womenfolk is the legality of Harem Wives, Temporary Marriage, and Slave Concubine (Vakil 64). Contrary to what many people around the world experience and believe in, the laws touching on sexual and matrimonial aspects are not as rigid as one would have expected particularly when it comes to the liberty that they grant to the male gender (Kashani-Sabet 146). Iran is a country whose national laws closely relate to the Islamic religion, making it difficult to implement reforms particularly in the sexual and matrimonial areas (Afary 286). Owing to this, most Iranian men do not take their marriages seriously but instead look for slaves who in turn become their concubines (Shahidian 146). This law legalizing slave concubines allow men who would wish to fulfill their sexual desires beyond their holy matrimony to do so without any worry. Although some religious views do not agree fully to this practice, it is a common practice in Iran and other Arabian nations such as Egypt (Rieffer-Flanagan 123). Additionally, the legality of temporary marriages that supports the marriage of Harem wives has hindered the prevalence of sexual and gender democracy (Vakil 32). In this case, a man is free to marry multiple women as long as he had the capacity to provide for them. In contrast to most marriage bills in the world, the Arabian culture does not allow their womenfolk to make certain key decisions particularly those concerning their marriages and sexuality (Rieffer-Flanagan 133). Due to this, there has been growing political tension in Iran concerning sexuality of the women and sexual laws if the government will continue with its relentless efforts in upholding the age-old laws. By stating that a man can marry a woman temporarily, the citizens of Iran perceive it as the gateway to promiscuity. Besides, the society looks down upon women who have been abandoned by their former husbands, the reasons notwithstanding (Afary 286). Influence of Modernity of Iranian Sexual Politics Although Iran is an Arabic country governed by the Islamic laws, it is important to note that the global influence is slowly but surely affecting the sexual politics of Iran, especially with the new technological age (Shahidian 146). Initially, the marriage was a holy institution that had to be instituted by the parents only with the male gender playing a significant role in the making of key decisions (Afary 276). While it is true that sexual politics is not as aggressive in the Arab world as it is in the west, the Arabs and Iranians in particular, loathe certain contentious aspects that the world tends to spread across nations (Rieffer-Flanagan 123). One example of such contentious aspects is the propagation of homosexual rights that is spearheaded by the western nations. Ideally, the Islamic laws and teachings do not allow its followers to practice such acts and therefore its mere mention is considered a terrible sin that attracts heavy penalties (Vakil 28). When it comes to the purity of the human body and the use of veils in quenching the desires of the flesh, the Iranian government takes the lead (I?lkkaracan 28). This is particularly so because the Islamic religion is one full of conservative elements and therefore advocates for the use of veils in the covering of the flesh especially by women. The issue of women’s sexuality has been a burning issue both at the altar and in the political arena (Vakil 84). This being the case, there has been frequent confrontations that have affected even the international community particularly regarding the wearing of the Punjab by women to cover their hair. It is widely believed in Iran that when women cover their hair with the Punjab and use the veils to cover their bodies, the beauty of the women will not distract men (Shahidian 145). This will in turn prevent men from sinning against their own souls and those of others through rape and coveting. While some of these laws may be sincere in their pleas, it is important to draw a thick line between the practice of religious principles and human rights infringement (Afary 227). Another argument by the Iranian political class is the fact that the marriage as an institution should not be tempered with in any way in the name of reforms (Vakil 84). In Iran and in many parts of the Arab world, most of the sexual and matrimonial roles are vested upon the male gender with the women folk only playing a passive role (Talattof 92). In this case, women feel that their male counterparts have sidelined them especially when it comes to the key matters pertaining to their marriage (Shahidian 146). Essentially, the law does not allow the Iranian women to choose their respective spouses, as their parents do this when their children are still young. Additionally, the men are at liberty to sleep outside their matrimonial boundaries without necessarily offending anyone but the same case when applied to the women, attracts a heavy penalty (Afary 286). Conclusion While vast majorities of the nations of the world have shifted from oppressive regimes, some Arab nations, particularly Iran, have clung to the old order that looked down upon women. The modern politics has proved that women have equal capability of delivering excellence just the same way men can. In this regard, it is important to appreciate the fact that while sexual politics may appear outrageous in certain regions of the world, it is important in order to achieve equity and equality. Indeed, sexual politics in Iran is a crucial topic in the sense that the Iranian women undergo unimaginable agony in trying to comply with the Chauvinist laws that more often than not, degrade them into mere objects of procreation. In this sense, a woman’s beauty is her fountain that no man except her husband should see. It is true that modernity has promoted promiscuity to certain extent due to nudism. However, it is important to balance between the instilling of punitive laws against women and the need to protect the rights of the same human beings. Works Cited Afary, Janet. Sexual Politics in Modern Iran. London: Cambridge University Press, 2009. Print. I?lkkaracan, P?nar. Deconstructing Sexuality in the Middle East: Challenges and Discourses. Aldershot, England: Ashgate, 2008. Print. Kashani-Sabet, Firoozeh. Conceiving Citizens: Women and the Politics of Motherhood in Iran. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2011. Print. Mahdavi, Pardis. Passionate Uprisings: Iran's Sexual Revolution. Stanford, Calif: Stanford University Press, 2009. Print. Rieffer-Flanagan, Barbara A. J. Evolving Iran: An Introduction to Politics and Problems in the Islamic Republic. Washington, DC: Georgetown University Press, 2013. Print. Shahidian, Hammed. Coercion: Gender Politics in Revolutionary Iran. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 2002. Print. Talattof, Kamran. Modernity, Sexuality, and Ideology in Iran: The Life and Legacy of a Popular Female Artist. Syracuse, N.Y: Syracuse University Press, 2011. Print. Vakil, Sanam. Women and Politics in the Islamic Republic of Iran: Action and Reaction. New York: Continuum, 2011. Print. Read More