What does one make of a government that nominates three women cabinet ministers, but whose legitimacy remains in question by the public?

Any answer to this question will not translate into legitimacy for the government.  However, since the issue of women’s political participation is not limited to today or yesterday, we discussed this issue with three feminist activists: Shadi Sadr, Parvin Ardalan and Zohre Arzani. Here are their views.

Response to Women’s Protests

Attorney and feminist activist Shadi Sadr tells Rooz, “In my opinion, Ahmadinejad’s nomination of three female cabinet ministers to the Majlis for confirmation is his and his government’s response to the undeniable, progressive and active participation of women in the post June-12 election popular protests.”

Government Seeking Legitimacy

Activist in the One Million Signatures Campaign, Parvin Ardalan, believes, “It is possible to say that the nomination of women to the cabinet is the result of pressure by the women’s movement, but I think that it is more an attempt to gain popularity and legitimacy among women than respecting the demands of the women’s rights movement.  If the latter was the case, obviously women whose own views were not discriminatory towards women would have been chosen, which is not the case. 

Authorities Are Bowing Down to Society

Attorney and women’s rights activist, Zohre Arzani, talks of social demands and says, “The nomination of women ministers is due to the pressure that comes from society, leaving no choice for officials but to bow down to them.  Regardless of how closed-minded she may be on gender issues, a woman minister is nevertheless a woman, and her appointment to such a position shows she has found a role beyond being a wife and a mother.”  

Dangerous Choice for Women

Shadi Sadr, however, does not dismiss the danger that this selection poses to women.  According to her, “The ministership of three or even ten women in Ahmadinejad’s cabinet will not only fail to produce general positive change in the status of women but is actually dangerous.  In my opinion, we should ask ourselves why did Ahmadinejad and his administration fail to have an open mind regarding issues that were so essential to women during the past four years, and why are they now making up for all their inaction with these nominations?”

She adds, “Is it not true that this is and will be the simplest and least dangerous way to reduce women’s pressure as well as pressures by human rights organizations on the government over women’s issues?”

No Place for Cheers!

Ardalan also emphasizes that, “If Ahmadinejad’s administration had made this decision during its first term, it could have had positive impacts. But because of post-election events, the growth of public mistrust and the reduction of government legitimacy, the selection of women ministers would not prove to be popular.” 

Women’s Symbolic Presence

Pointing to the propaganda value of appointing women to the ministries, Zohre Arzani notes that, “The nomination of three women ministers to the Majlis for confirmation by the new administration is not welcomed by some traditionalist clerics.  What happens next is that either the Majlis will reject the women, or clerics will impose pressure so that Majlis rejects them.  In either case, the victor of this scenario is Ahmadinejad, who can portray himself as a hero.”