An Analysis of Selected Written documents and Oral narratives related to the Unveiling Act (Kashf-e Hijab) in Pahlavi-era Gilan

Document Type : Research Paper I Open Access I Released under (CC BY-NC 4.0) license

Author

Institute of Guilan Studies, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran

Abstract

The veil-revealing plan was one of the most challenging socio-cultural policies and events that was implemented with the aim of changing and modernizing Iranian society during the early Pahlavi period. The implementation of this plan was accompanied by public resistance at the national and local levels from the very beginning due to its incompatibility with cultural conditions and its contradiction with the values, religious culture, and traditions of the society. This study attempts to study and examine, using a descriptive-analytical approach and using written documents available in the National Documents Organization and oral narratives of local narrators, how this law was implemented in Gilan and how people faced it. A review of documents related to the veil-revealing and narratives and memories related to the veil-revealing in Gilan shows that the Pahlavi government's actions in this regard can be categorized as dramatic, propaganda measures such as the veil-revealing celebration and violent and imposed measures such as the ban on the veil and the presence of veiled women in public places and spaces. This imposed and authoritarian policy was met with negative reactions and public resistance. Despite all the pressure, Reza Shah's plan to unveil the hijab was not accepted by the general public and failed due to the people of Gilan's adherence to the traditions and values ​​of the society.

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References

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Iranian History of Culture
Volume 2, Issue 2
September 2025
Pages 139-155

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History

  • Receive Date: 07 September 2025
  • Revise Date: 04 October 2025
  • Accept Date: 18 October 2025
  • Publish Date: 23 September 2025

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