Suchergebnisse

During the nineteenth century, the bazaar remained the center of commercial activity in Iran. However, the traditional structure of Iranian economy and society began to be deeply affected by Iran's increasing involvement in the international market, so that by the end of the century there had been nearly a twelvefold increase in the volume of Iran's foreign trade. This was accompanied by a rise in the general level of prosperity in the country, and an almost doubling of its population. The groups most directly affected by these developments were the merchants and craftsmen and it was the emergence of a small capitalist class which wanted a share in the political process that greatly contributed to the rise and success of the constitutional movement. The impact of the demands of the international market on crafts and guilds damaged some of the textile industry but stimulated the rise of new crafts, such as those associated with the production and processing of opium and carpets.

The image of the Iranian woman clad in the traditional chador, pointing her fist in the air or carrying a machine gun, has become one of the hallmarks of the most recent revolution in Iran. But, in spite of the role played by women in toppling the shah's regime, women have lost more from the change of government than has any other group that participated in the revolution. This loss is evident in (1) the abrogation of laws enacted under the previous regime that introduced a measure of equality for women; (2) the dwindling of employment opportunities available to women due to the deteriorating economic situation; (3) the long-term policy of the current government to encourage women to stay at home; and (4) a massive and persistent campaign to convince women that their own welfare and the welfare of society is best preserved if the roles of men and women are kept separate and if contact between the sexes is kept at a minimum.