Seconded By: Tim Smith,
When I caught sight of the mustache and beard that clung to my face, a wave of emotion surged within me, and I
thought to myself, “Why must I change my identity just to enjoy a simple right—watching a football match?” In 2018, I
completed a project focused on the stories of football-loving girls who, due to the prohibition against women entering
men’s stadiums, risked arrest by disguising themselves and sneaking into the stadiums alongside boys. The necessity
of adopting a male disguise to capture photographs within the stadium deeply affected me, amplifying my awareness
of women’s issues in Iran more than ever before.
On the flip side of this situation lies the courage of women who are willing to do whatever it takes to attain their rights.
As I looked at the new generation around me, I was struck by the vibrancy of passionate youth, particularly young
women who are no longer as conservative as their parents. They have not experienced war firsthand and have only
heard stories from the older generations about the revolution. Thanks to social media, their life models transcend
national boundaries, and instead of conforming, they might find themselves questioning daily, “Why should I endure
oppression?” “Why should someone else make decisions about my lifestyle?” and similar inquiries.
In recent years, my photography has increasingly concentrated on two areas concerning women. The first involves
documenting the everyday lives of the new generation, where everything appears normal, even as their actions once
constituted significant taboos. Mixed-gender gatherings, dancing and singing by girls, smoking, drinking, hosting
parties, and strolling without hijab in contemporary fashion are just some manifestations of this transformation.
The second area focuses on successful women who, had they not paved the way, perhaps the new generation would
not have exhibited such bravery. Sociologists argue that traditional societies suffer profoundly from a lack of role
models. Now, pioneering women have emerged, proving the mantra, “I can, if he can.” From women who repair cars
or ride motorcycles to tribal girls who have become kickboxing champions or young women leading a stunt team,
these figures represent the changing landscape.
Although many restrictions against women in Iran still persist, anyone who steps back and observes the
transformations over the years will be astonished by the progress and changes that have taken place. These
transformations could only have been achieved through the bravery of women and an aware generation of young
people.
Aida stands in a place which is called Bam-e Tehran (meaning Roof of Tehran) with a beautiful view of the city. Since the Mahsa’s tragedy, many girls only bring the scarves and put them on their shoulders. It is for the time some unofficial people alert them or even at the entrance of some public places such as some hyper markets or cinemas at which some guards politely tell the women they are not allowed to enter, unless they have their scarves on their heads. So, many girls have them to enter the place and after that they put it off again.
Sahar Rashidi, a 31-year-old kickboxer, poses wearing her boxing gloves in Kermanshah, western Iran. Born into a nomad family, Sahar started secretly fighting as a Kungfu fighter in a sport club in the city. In time, she became fond of kickboxing. Sahar had dozens of championships in kickboxing and became a role model for other nomad girls.
Sogol Kheirandish,30, performs flow art at a park in the north of Tehran. she is a coach and a dancer. “Flow Arts” are both a sport and leisure activity that includes dance, juggling, fire-spinning, and other movement-based disciplines. In recent years, it has attracted young people in big cities like Tehran who dress in Western clothing, rock fashionable hairstyles, and wear tattoos. But dancing in public spaces is banned for women in Iran. “The strongest obstacle for a girl in a closed society is shallow-minded people,” Sogol says. “That makes most of us depressed, unless you return to what your heart tells you.”
A make-up artist applies a false beard to the face of Zeinab. She is a female football fan eager to attend a national match at the Azadi Stadium in Tehran, Iran. She risks arrest by going. In Iran, there are restrictions on female fans entering football stadiums. As football is the nation’s most popular sport, the ban has been a controversial public issue.
Her mother is braiding her hair to get ready to go to the track. Hasti Rezaei,17, is a female motocross rider. She began riding at the age of nine, was the female motocross champion of Iran in 2021-2022, and has been a national and regional motocross champion several times.
Hasti goes to the track every weekend. “Some believe that it is a masculine sport and it is dangerous for women,” she says. “They ask me, ‘Aren’t you afraid? What if you got injured?’” Injury is only part of the risk. Though women can drive cars in Iran, it is illegal to have a motorcycle license in cities.
Elmira and Elahe are sisters. Elmira is a painter and Elahe is a voice actress. Young artists often face serious financial challenges in Iran. So they decided to leave the country and now they are studying in Canada.
She goes fishing several days a week, consuming a portion of her catch at her restaurant, while selling the remainder through her Instagram page to various cities across Iran. Khadijeh Ghodsinejad, a 26-year-old married woman with a two-year-old child, resides on Hengam Island and is the youngest female fisher in the community. Known as Khajoou on Instagram, she began accompanying her mother on fishing trips in a rowboat as early as age four or five. Nowadays, they have a motorized boat, which has made their work easier, yet she still frequently fishes alongside her mother. In recent times, many young people have shied away from the arduous work and unpleasant smell of fish, making Khajoo the only young woman who continues to fish. She remarks, “When I return from fishing, everyone tells me to quickly change my clothes because I smell of fish!” Khajoou speaks candidly about the challenges she faces: “Water scarcity, power outages, and the lack of doctors and adequate medical facilities have always been part of life on the island and are among the most significant hardships we endure.” “The influx of tourists has provided substantial economic benefits,” she notes, “but it has also brought cultural changes. Many people no longer wish to wear traditional clothing, which I don’t think is a good thing. I, myself, wear our local attire with love and pride. I dream of owning a large guesthouse and a well-equipped boat.” Khajoou shared these thoughts while praying for her son’s future.
A typical family is swimming in the Caspian Sea. Although there are a few special region for women to swim freely, they have to wear hijab in public regions of the sea. It might be weird to the outsiders to see the men with shorts next to women with hijab next to the beaches of the Caspian Sea.
Adrina Ansar, a girl born in 2011, has been practicing stunts for approximately five years. She is a professional athlete involved in gymnastics and physical fitness. She shares, “I have always had a passion for thrilling activities since childhood. When Ms. Timouri recognized this interest in me, she took me to a few stunt training sessions, and it was there that both Ms. Timouri and I realized my genuine enthusiasm for this field and the joy I derive from its excitement. The challenges I face include being the youngest person engaged in stunts and the limited resources available for stunt work in Iran. Generally, the number of female stunt performers is significantly lower than that of their male counterparts, which often leads to a lack of attention towards female stunt artists. Moreover, due to the scarcity of facilities, families tend to worry about the potential injuries one might sustain in this profession.” When asked about her aspirations and what advice she would give to girls like herself in Iran, she states, “I hope to undertake more stunt-related activities and demonstrate that anyone can achieve their goals at any age. To girls my age, I encourage you to pursue whatever you are truly passionate about and strive to excel in that field.”
Elnaz Rekabi participated at the 2021 IFSC Climbing World Championships in Moscow, and was awarded the bronze medal in the women’s combined event. She had previously won a silver and two bronze medals at the IFSC Climbing Asian Championships. But Elnaz gained international attention in 2022 for competing without a headscarf at the IFSC Asia Championships in Seoul. When Elnaz returned to Tehran, this time without a medal, hundreds of people greeted her. They cheered “Elnaz the Champion.”