Internet as an Indispensable tool for women’s movement in Iran
Internet as an Indispensable tool for women’s movement in Iran
By Shadi Sadr
After a very brief background of female web sites and blogs in Iran, the paper will explain their functions in three continual historical periods:
The first: Raising the awareness:
In this period which started in 2001, some of the most influence of web sites and blogs were established. The main function of them at that time was raising the awareness abut gender issues, sexuality and women’s experiences which in some cases, Iranian women have never spoken about out. I will clarify this function through a lot of examples.
The second: Advocacy
Beside awareness raising, in the absence of access to the public sphere, very freely, in the last years of Khatami, women’s organizations (NGOs), coalitions and even individual feminists started to use internet (Their web sites) as a tool for advocacy. They have gathered signatures for their petitions online, they have announced for some demonstration in their web sites and ….
The third: Networking
After the oppression of women’s movement activists in Iran in Ahmadinejad and in banning independent press, women’s NGOs, forums and the other public sphere, feminists initiate networking through the internet. Feminist web sites and blogs became a unique space to talk about women’s critical issues, to decide on women’s movement strategies, to seek new members and …
In the conclusion, explanation will be offered as to why Internet in Iran, for women’s movement is an indispensable tool.