Today is National Day for Staff Networks and we’re celebrating our employee-led networks with the launch of this ‘Networks & Communities News’ blog. An opportunity for colleagues to share personal stories, discuss current affairs and to spotlight the invaluable work our networks do in supporting our DEI ambitions, blogs will be published regularly here on The Insider.
This blog has been written by a colleague who has chosen to remain anonymous.
“How are women doing around the world today? Well, generally speaking, women are way better off than they were 100 years ago and are better off than they were 20 years ago. But when you look into the national and local situations across the world, the assessment gets really misty! In some countries, especially in the Western world, gender equality is actively pursued. In many others, like my home country – Iran – discriminations are massively enforced.
According to the United Nations, gender-based discrimination is prohibited under almost every human rights treaty. Despite much progress in securing women’s rights globally, millions of women and girls continue to experience discrimination and violence, being denied of their equality, dignity and autonomy, and even a life.
In recent years, there has been a recurrence of scepticism against and denial of international standards concerning women’s human rights and gender equality. We’ve seen gender-based violence, while women and girls are increasingly raising their voices to demand equality, such as through feminist movements. And new movements have flourished in the digital age, such as the #MeToo campaign which highlights the prevalence of gender-based violence and sexual harassment.
Mahsa Amini
Another recent example is the ‘Women, Life, Freedom’ movement in Iran following the death of an innocent girl (Mahsa Amini) in September 2022 – days after she was violently arrested by Iran’s ‘morality’ police amid credible reports of torture and other ill treatment. The movement started by calling for equality and a review of women’s rights. However, it got bigger and bigger very quickly. Primarily led by generation Z, but with the support of their parents and grandparents, they began demanding freedom in their everyday lives and calling for wholesale change to achieve their fundamental rights. Like their peers around the globe, they want to hang out freely, they want LGBQT rights and they are concerned about the environment. Thanks to the digital age, their voice could be heard, with many international superstars, celebrities and politicians supporting the movement.
When I was asked to write an article about my personal experience, I was really unsure. I felt embarrassed to share what’s going on in Iran and the restrictions that we grow up with – especially when you compare them to what we have in the UK/Western countries. But as the movement got bigger and bigger, I realised how important it is to help their voices to be heard. Not only for Iranian women, but also for any women who experience similar discriminations around the world. The situation of women’s rights in Iran today is really tragic. After the Islamic Revolution about 40 years ago, more and more restrictions were introduced by the government. I was born post-revolution and therefore raised in a society where the law treats women as second-class citizens, including in relation to education, employment, marriage, divorce, child custody, inheritance and so on.
From the early days of my childhood, I felt discrimination in my flesh, skin and bones. I grew up with two brothers, so it was really hard for me to not be able to follow their leads. The first time I witnessed first-hand the inequality, discrimination and unfair judgment of society against myself was when I really wanted to learn tennis or basketball (like my brothers), but I was told instead that I should do gymnastics or sign up to an art lesson because that’s what girls do!
I was lucky enough to be brought up in a family that is supportive of gender equality as far as the law would allow. My parents are from a generation (pre-revolution), where women had a lot more freedom and equal opportunities than now. I was highly ambitious, I wanted to explore the world and push boundaries, and they knew they had to let me go (abroad) to follow my dreams.
And here I am, 17 years after I left home, grateful for the support of my parents to get to where I am today and feeling thankful to live in a society where freedom truly exists. And being extremely hopeful and positive about what Modern Britain will look like in coming years – where equality exists regardless of your gender, background or religion. And lastly, feeling very proud of the brave Iranian women and the men who stand by them back home who have the courage to risk their lives and fight for their freedom and equality.”
I wrote this article purely to raise awareness of the situation in Iran and highlight the importance of sharing and supporting these types of movements on social media. Freedom and equality are everyone’s fight, so help us spread the word! Also, I am hoping by sharing my experience that other women within our organisation who have had similar experiences in their life will feel free to talk about their challenges and experiences.