Women’s Employment in the Legislative Assemblies of the Reza Shah Era: Opportunities and Constraints

Abstract

This study examines women’s employment during the reign of Reza Shah Pahlavi and its reflection in the proceedings of the National Consultative Assembly. The aim of the research is to analyze the opportunities and limitations of women’s participation in occupational and educational domains, as well as the impact of state policies and social structure on their roles. The research method is based on the analysis of historical documents, the official transcripts of parliamentary debates from the First to the Twelfth National Consultative Assemblies, and authoritative scholarly sources. The findings indicate that with the expansion of girls’ schools, the establishment of the university, and the modernization of the administrative system, women were able to engage in education, healthcare, medicine, social services, and certain new professions such as the police and the military; however, legal restrictions and traditional attitudes constrained their economic independence. The parliamentary proceedings show that the issue of women’s employment was not addressed directly until the Twelfth Assembly, and legislators primarily focused on girls’ education and cultural reforms. Reza Shah’s nationalist policy was conservative in nature and largely confined to socially acceptable occupations for educated women. In contrast, social pressures and the heavy labor performed by women from lower urban and rural classes prevented them from fully benefiting from employment opportunities. Overall, the findings demonstrate that women’s employment in this period was the product of simultaneous social and cultural modernization and legal and social constraints, and that women’s achievements were most evident in the fields of education, medicine, and social services. This research emphasizes the necessity of an integrated examination of policy, education, and culture in understanding women’s social and economic status.