The Woman, Life, Freedom Movement and the Values and Limitations of Social Media as a Vehicle for Resistance in the Struggle for Women’s Rights in Iran
Woman, Life, Freedom
The Woman, Life, Freedom movement demands the end of compulsory hijab laws. The movement arose in 2022 after the death of 22-year-old Mahsa (Jina) Amini who died in the custody of Iran’s morality police after being arrested for allegedly violating hijab laws. Authorities report that she had a heart attack, while eyewitnesses report that she was beaten to death. Her death ignited nationwide protests led by women and young girls; teenage girls burned their headscarves and cut their hair in acts of public defiance. In a quieter form of dissent, some women are choosing to defy dress codes in public rather than join mass demonstrations. This youth-driven, leaderless movement has connected women across many sectors of society in a common cause. Despite brutal crackdowns, mass arrests, detention of thousands, and the killing of at least 68 minors such as Sarina Esmailzadeh and Nika Shakarami, the spirit of the resistance endures. Woman, Life, Freedom is not just a slogan, but a call for dignity and a cry for bodily autonomy and the basic right to exist freely as a woman in Iran.
Social media has become a vital form of protest for Iranian women and girls resisting government control. According to Iranian American journalist Roya Hakakian, social media has made it easier for women inside Iran to organize and connect with feminists around the world. Viral campaigns such as White Wednesdays helped globalize their message and build further momentum for the Woman, Life, Freedom movement. Nevertheless, as protests gain traction and the power of social media brings women together, the Iranian regime often responds by cutting off access to the internet with blackouts and cyber-attacks to silence dissident voices. The Regime is also using AI and social media to trace women down through their posts which makes them much more vulnerable to crackdowns. Activists continue to find ways to get around the obstacles. Although social media can’t end the oppression, it can amplify and spread the voices of women – voices that the government is trying so hard to erase.
Social Media's Role in Resistance
