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Inspiration June 30, 2017
"My goal is just empowering women and giving them a voice."
Could you imagine being required to wear certain colors, headdresses and outfits by law?
Well this is the reality for women living in Iran. It’s impossible to figure out what to wear in Iran in the summer, because the law requires a sweltering amount of coverage. But the women are not staying silent about it.
Women are posting photos of themselves wearing white headdresses to an Instagram account called My Stealthy Freedom (@masihpooyan). The white headdress is not illegal, but it serves as a code between the women who wear them. This way, they can all go on individual marches with their sisters, husbands and sons… without being persecuted for it.
Yeah. It’s pretty cool.
Activist Masih Alinejad started the hashtag #WhiteWednesday, and she encouraged Iranian women to send pictures of themselves in white hijabs to her Twitter account. She then posts the photos for them and spreads awareness of their movement. As she lives in New York, she can compile and post the photos while preserving the protection of the women and herself.
Woman and her husband protest the Iran Dress Code on #WhiteWednesday. Photo via Twitter/@masihpooyan
Husbands and sons are supporting their wives and mothers in the protest of Iranian traditional clothing. Sometimes they are the ones holding the camera and sending the files to Masih in New York. Even the men are over the Iran dress code.
Masih’s movement is slowly becoming become an international trend. The photos on Twitter depict entire offices of women wearing white hijabs for #WhiteWednesday. The subtlety of the gesture is responsible for the success of protest — it works as a subtle reminder to other women that they are not alone.
Bravery comes in all shapes and sizes, and it’s not always obvious. But all of these women are incredibly brave to put forth their opinions on Iranian law — and we should aspire to match that bravery.
