The politics of veiling and unveiling

Abstract

ABSTRACT The murder of Mahsa Jina Amini has galvanized a movement for women’s rights and freedom in Iran. Translating political movements and their slogans is often a daunting task, as identities, histories, and struggles are not easily translatable cross-culturally. This movement, too, has provoked frenzied sentimentalism and “feel good” social media activism from celebrities and politicians. From celebrities cutting their hair on social media, to politicians and right-wing activists and leaders denouncing the Islamic regime, the focus of the protest seems to have been lost in the west. The discourse in the west is lacking a critical analysis of the politics of veiling and unveiling in western countries. This commentary points out that the movement spearheaded by Iranian women and schoolgirls is against state coercion. It further argues that reframing the discourse to focus on the protest as being against state control, instead of hijab, will be a more useful way forward for feminist movement globally.