Official figures show a sharp rise in the presence of Iranian women in media management, film, publishing, and technology — a presence grounded in legal backing and national and international achievements, solidifying their status in culture and the arts.
On the 47th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution, Iranian women have played an active, influential, and managerial role not only in science, economics, and politics but also in culture, art, and media. Official data points to both quantitative and qualitative growth in their participation in content creation, media work, and leadership positions.
Strong Legal Foundations
Under Article 175 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran, freedom of expression and publication within Islamic norms is guaranteed. The Charter of Women’s Rights and Responsibilities explicitly emphasizes the right of women to freedom of pen and expression.
Achievements in Official Numbers
Media Management
In the past five years, 1,708 licenses have been issued to women as media directors. Currently, 2,336 women serve as chief editors or managers in Iranian media outlets.
Cinema and Film
There are 903 female filmmakers and 2,000 women working in behind-the-scenes roles in Iranian cinema. Female filmmakers have won 114 national awards and 128 international awards at various festivals. Women directors and actresses have also served as jury presidents at 45 international film festivals.
Publishing and Printing
181,479 women authors hold licenses to publish books. 2,762 women have professional licenses in publishing, and 435 printing houses are managed by women.
Digital Access
Women represent a significant share of technology users:
- 45% of mobile phone users (about 26 million),
- 48% of computer users (about 14.5 million),
- 48% of internet users (around 18.7 million).
Information Technology Participation
Women’s participation in the information technology sector has reached 31.5%.
A Comparative Look at Challenges for Women Artists in the West
In some Western countries, women artists face structural challenges such as systematic sexual harassment cases like the Harvey Weinstein scandal, unequal opportunities in exhibiting and selling artwork (with women representing only a small share of the global art market), and gender stereotypes in content production. By contrast, domestic figures indicate a growing, merit-based presence of women in art and media. For example, in Europe about 18% of media professionals are women, and in London galleries 68% of exhibiting artists are men — while Iranian women have an active presence in creative, managerial, and analytic roles in media.
Looking Back and Ahead
Forty-seven years after the Islamic Revolution, Iranian women have used the legal frameworks available to them to succeed not only as creators of cultural works but also as decision-makers and thought leaders. This progress reflects a home-grown model where Iranian Muslim women balance artistic and managerial engagement with family and social values.
Sources:
Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran – Charter of Women’s Rights and Responsibilities – Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance statistics – Statistical Centre of Iran reports – UNESCO and global art market data.
From: Fars