1. Family Protection Law (1967): This landmark legislation granted women equal rights in marriage, divorce, and child custody. It also introduced the concept of shared marital property and set the minimum age for marriage at 18 years for both men and women.
2. Civil Code Reforms: The Shah's government made significant changes to the Civil Code, further strengthening women's rights. These amendments increased the age of legal capacity for women to 18, gave women the right to vote and run for public office, and removed restrictions on women's travel without male permission.
3. Education: Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi prioritized female education and expanded access to schools and universities for girls and women. Primary education was made compulsory for all children, and enrollment rates for girls increased significantly. Furthermore, the establishment of the Women's University of Tehran in 1934 provided higher education opportunities for women in various fields, including medicine, law, and literature.
4. Women's Suffrage: During the 1963 referendum on the "White Revolution," women played a crucial role. In the same year, Iranian women gained the right to vote and stand as candidates in parliamentary and local elections, making Iran one of the first countries in the Muslim world to grant women political rights.
5. Employment and Public Life: The modernization efforts under the Pahlavi regime saw more opportunities for women in various fields and sectors. Women joined the workforce in increasing numbers, and they held prominent positions in government, academia, and the arts.
These initiatives and reforms significantly advanced women's rights and helped promote gender equality in Iran. While there have been setbacks and challenges after the 1979 Islamic Revolution, the groundwork laid by Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi played a crucial role in shaping the ongoing conversations and efforts to secure women's rights in Iran today.