WEARING THE VEIL TO COLLEGE: THE PARADOX OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN THE LIVES OF IRANIAN WOMEN

Abstract

College education, whatever its form, has always carried with it a consciousness of possibilities for women.In the Company of Educated Women, B. M. Solomon Iranian college campuses are highly guarded terrains. One enters the gated and walled campuses through security guard offices. Until recently, women's attire—hijāb—and makeup would be entirely checked by one of the khwāharān at these gates. Today, Iranian women nonchalantly pass through the gates, despite their heavily applied makeup and revealing hijāb—a sign of changing social order. Student identification cards allow them through the gates, whereas nonstudent visitors, such as myself, need the prior permission of an administrator to enter. The time of my entrance is recorded, a birth certificate or an identity card is withheld, and a slip is issued to be signed by the hosting administrator. I am instructed to “fix my hijāb” and then am allowed to enter the campus.