Novara Media Novara FM: How the West Tried to Co-opt Iranian Feminism w/ Bahar Noorizadeh
4 snips
Apr 10, 2025 Bahar Noorizadeh, a writer, artist, and researcher from the RCA School of Architecture, delves into Iran's complex political landscape. She argues that the Islamic Republic has always been a neoliberal and imperial state, impacting various ethnic groups. The discussion explores how the 'Women, Life, Freedom' movement, ignited by Gina Amini's death, symbolizes a united front against oppression. Noorizadeh emphasizes the need for genuine solidarity in feminist struggles, addressing the dangers of Western appropriation and the importance of intersectionality in activism across Iran and beyond.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Origins of Women Life Freedom
- The Women Life Freedom Movement began after the death of Jina Mahsa Amini, a Kurdish Iranian woman, at the hands of the morality police.
- The movement originated in Kurdistan during her funeral and spread to other cities, linking with other national struggles.
Intersectionality of Struggles
- Jina Amini's Kurdish identity and the history of oppression in Iranian Kurdistan intersected with ongoing women's resistance.
- This intersection, along with underlying labor movements and other social struggles, fueled the mass protests.
Nation-State Building in Iran
- Iran, like many nation-states, underwent modernization and language unification in the early 20th century.
- This process involved establishing Farsi as the primary language and Shia Islam as the common religion.