Achievements of Iranian women
Despite numerous limitations, Iranian women never lost hope after the revolution. They continued to fight and achieved remarkable success not only within Iran but also on the international stage in science, culture, art, and sports, keeping the light of hope alive for their fellow women back home. Although some of them were forced to leave the country.
For years Iranian women have chased education new ideas, and change often risking a lot. Their strong spirit shows a deep hope to be equal and have a better future—not just for them, but for their towns and kids to come. In schools, sports fields, courts, or art spaces Iranian women have proved that dreams can grow even when held back.
In science Iranian women have made big discoveries, both in Iran and other countries. People like Maryam Mirzakhani, the first woman to get the top math prize, stand for more than just being smart. They show what Iranian women can do when given the chance, as they keep pushing boundaries.
In sports, athletes such as Kimia Alizadeh, the first female Olympic medalist from Iran, have broken social barriers to create history. Their triumphs go beyond athletic achievements; they serve as moments of inspiration for many young girls to aim high, strive for recognition, and establish their presence in fields dominated by men.
Artists, writers, and filmmakers have also employed their skills to confront censorship and reshape stories about womanhood in Iran. Women like Shirin Neshat have transformed their individual expression into widespread cultural changes connecting the gap between custom and progress.
At the heart of this movement are activists – women who have stood up to injustice, often at personal cost. From the fearless legal advocacy of Nasrin Sotoudeh to the courageous voices of generations of young people protesting for basic freedoms, these women remind us that the pursuit of rights is deeply tied to the pursuit of hope.
The achievements of Iranian women are not just victories, but the seeds of a more inclusive future. They light a path forward, even in the darkness. Each achievement, whether public or personal, adds a chapter to the larger story of progress.
This page is dedicated to those women - past, present and future - who dream, hope and achieve against all odds. Their stories inspire us to continue listening, supporting and advocating for a world where every woman's voice is heard, her rights are protected and her dreams are celebrated.
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Sports
Kimia Alizadeh
Iran's first female Olympic medalist, won a bronze in taekwondo at the 2016 Rio Olympics, but her fame is not limited to her athletic prowess. She has been the voice of Iranian women.
Farzaneh Fasihi
A record-breaking sprinter, competed in the 2024 Paris Olympics. She is forced to compete with her rivals under forced hijab and unequal conditions.
Zahra Nemati
A Paralympic archer who has won multiple medals, including three gold medals. She originally competed in taekwondo before she was paralyzed in a car accident.
Science
Maryam Mirzakhani
A brilliant mathematician and the first woman to win the Fields Medal, a prestigious award in mathematics, in 2014.
Anousheh Ansari
An engineer, businesswoman, and the first Iranian and Muslim woman to travel to space as a private citizen
Mona Jarrahi
An Iranian Engineering professor at the University of California, Los Angeles. She investigates novel materials, terahertz/millimeter-wave electronics and optoelectronics, microwave photonics, imaging and spectroscopy systems.
Art
Shirin Neshat
Shirin Neshat's photographs and video installations explore the cultural issues that shape her native Iran, with particular emphasis on the experience of women.
Golshifteh Farahani
Golshifteh Farahani, an Iranian actress and singer, gained international recognition for her roles in films like "Body of Lies" and "Paterson," and is known for her work in both Iranian and international cinema, Following her work in "Body of Lies", she was banned from her home country. She left Iran in 2008 after being targeted by the Islamic Republic and facing restrictions on her travel and career.
Googoosh
Faegheh Atashin, known professionally as Googoosh, is an Iranian singer and former actress. Regarded as a pop icon, she is one of the most popular and prolific entertainers in Iran, and her career has spanned over six decades. She left Iran for the first time since the Iranian Revolution in 2000, after being granted a passport and permission to travel outside the country.
Activists
Shirin Ebadi
Shirin Ebadi is an Iranian Nobel laureate, lawyer, writer, teacher and a former judge and founder of the Defenders of Human Rights Centre in Iran.
Narges Mohammadi
She is an Iranian human rights activist.
She is the vice president of the Defenders of Human Rights Centre, A human rights activist and journalist, Mohammadi was awarded the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize for her fight against women's oppression in Iran and for promoting human rights and freedom for all. She is currently serving a 10-year jail term in Iran's Evin prison.
Masih Alinejad
A journalist and women's rights activist, Alinejad is known for her "My Stealthy Freedom" campaign against compulsory hijab, which is the largest civil disobedience campaign in the history of the Islamic Republic. She is also an author and has sued the Iranian government in a U.S. federal court for harassment against her and her family.
The Future
After the revolution, Iranian women have always fought for their most minimal rights and, despite all the restrictions, have made their voices heard by the world. Thousands of Iranian women and girls, as you have met with some of them above, have achieved great success in various fields and have never stopped trying. Many of them were forced to leave their homeland forever and continue their fight abroad, many were forced to lose their jobs, but the only thing they all have in common is hope for the future.
Iranian women are fighting for:
✔️ A country where they can dress how they want.
✔️ A legal system that treats them as equals.
✔️ The right to work, travel, and live freely.
✔️ A future where no woman is forced into exile.