Challenges Facing the Women’s Commission of Tahkim-e Vahdat

This interview by Farnaz Seyfi is was originally published on December 18, 2006 at www.zanestan.net (issue 17) under the title “Rally on June 12, 2006 Was an Opportunity for the Women’s Commission.”

On International “Elimination of Violence” Day last year, Tahkim-e Vahdat (Office for the Consolidation of Unity) announced its establishment of a Women’s Commission inside of its organization. Tahkim-e Vahdat, considered the oldest university association in the country, sought greater interaction and cooperation with the women’s movement, one of Iran’s most dynamic social movements. The June 12, 2006 rally can be considered the first external manifestation of the group.

Both Bahareh Hedayat, who leads the Women’s Commission of the Tahkim-e Vahdat, and another member, Samira Sadri, were arrested at this rally and spent a few days in prison. In the following interview with Bahareh Hedayat, we examine the process through which the Women’s Commission was formed, the needs and concerns facing the Commission, the characteristics of Islamic student associations, and the interaction of the Commission with the women’s movement.

What types of problems arose while establishing the new commission?

People who join Islamic student associations are used to thinking in political terms. When someone brings up social issues and concerns from another perspective, it is unfamiliar and strange for them. So while the commission is active and moving forward, we actually have a lot of work to do among our own people – making them familiar with other perspectives. In the past year, we had a difficult time finding the right people to work with us and, when we looked more deeply into our ranks, we realized that the essence of women’s issues is not yet fully understood. Certain people recognized the importance of women’s issues, but others were more motivated by clichés or because “…it is fashionable to talk about the women’s movement.” Still others believe that Tahkim-e Vahdat should stick to political issues where it has a track-record for success rather than get involved in women’s issues.

All things considered, how would you characterize gender awareness among the members ofTahkim-e Vahdat and among girls in particular?

When we started out, we initially intended only to operate in Islamic student associations in Tehran. We wanted to wait and see how effective we would be and what sort of response we would get. At that time, people would come and tell me that they had started a women’s group in such-and-such Islamic student association at such-and-such university in their town, say, two years before. Hearing these things was really incredible because I had never imagined all this was going on already. But the more I found out about their activities, the more I realized that, compared to what is being done by the women’s movement, the efforts by people in the Islamic student associations lack direction. For example, what was being done by women inside the Islamic student associations – where people thought that making a speech was a big deal, for example – was totally different from the situation on the ground. As we found out, those who join an Islamic student association are often not interested in women's issues or, if they are, a lot of work is required to direct them to a place where they can be an asset to the association.

Bahareh, what is the male-female composition in the management of Tahkim-e Vahdat?

There are two or three women like Maryam Shabani who serve at the management level of Tahkim-e Vahdat. But in the last few years there have only been males at the decision-making level. For various reasons, most women do not get into politics and over 90 percent of the activities of the Islamic student associations are political. This male-dominated atmosphere tends to discourage women from joining Islamic student associations. Even if a woman is interested, the minute she opens the door she is immediately turned off when she sees that all the members are men.

Tahkim-e Vahdat is criticized for having a management framework that is too “macho.” What do you think?

I do not agree with this criticism. On the contrary, if a woman enters the decision-making level she is welcomed as an example of our success. But I agree that the overall mind-set is patriarchal. For example, I have heard criticisms that such-and-such woman came in, but the existing decision-making framework was too great a barrier. Yes, this much is true. I cannot say that Islamic student associations are different than society-at-large. As for the women who ran for positions on the central council but were not elected, I do not feel that their gender was a factor. There were also plenty of men who ran for the same positions and were not elected. Perhaps reducing the political aspects of Tahkim-e Vahdat’s activities and moving closer to social movements could help Tahkim-e Vahdat attract more women. Due to the politically charged nature of Tahkim-e Vahdat, a very high percentage of students entering university do not join. We need to find solutions to attract a high percentage of students into our committee.

What is the present condition of Islamic student associations?

Islamic student associations have been suspended for now. The authorities avoid direct confrontation with them because while they do not oppose them directly, they do not allow elections to be held. Central councils are normally elected each year. The university administrators should grant permission to hold elections, but they have not. They say our organization’s constitution has problems and have asked us to wait, giving other excuses. Changing the constitution is also a long, difficult process. In the end, the constitution will have to be passed by the university which, of course, will not happen. So elections are not held, and people on the central council, whose one-year terms have expired, can be accused of being there illegally. Because their term is over and elections are not taking place, they are automatically suspended. Such is the current state of our associations. Without direct opposition from the disciplinary committee or a ruling addressing this issue, the association’s activities will remain suspended.

What is the role of the women’s movement in the expansion and consolidation of the Women’s Commission of Tahkim-e Vahdat?

These are two different entities, each with a separate agenda, and neither of which speaks the other’s language. The women’s movement must be supported by the student movement – specifically Tahkim-e Vahdat – to bring about a mutual dialog of understanding. If people from the women’s movement think that we still have a long way to go, they should take action themselves. I think it is each group’s duty to do its own part in establishing a discourse of women’s issues. Even I, a politically-active student, cannot find you [the women’s movement] easily. If you think that we should join forces at some point, you should convince me to accept your manifesto and disseminate it. I, as a politically-active student who monitors civil society, have no reason to not accept the additional responsibility of becoming involved with social movements like that of women. I think the discernable gap between the student movement and the women’s movements needs to be closed. Social movements should understand that political parties cannot be eliminated. Politically-active people should also understand how useful social movements are and work directly with them. Were any political parties present at this rally last June to support those women? The political parties just issued statements stating that the police should not have assaulted women; no one discussed the merits of the demands of the women’s movement.

As it happens, parties closer to the student movement – specifically Tahkim-e Vahdat – are parties which could interact more with the women’s movement. There should be a direct dialogue between these parties and the women’s movement. As a member of the Women’s Commission, I can help establish this link, but the women’s movement should identify the issues to be discussed.