Iranian official: employing women 'not a priority'

The Iranian government is facing a dilemma in encouraging social participation among women. While officials boast about the number of intelligent and educated women in Iran, they are also concerned because these women are not so easy to placate compared to previous generations.

The Iranian administration desires to maintain the pride associated with producing a large number of highly educated women. By the same token, however, keeping these women sufficiently employed is difficult due to the fragile state of the economy. Thus, a sizable proportion of the budget directed toward higher education for women practically goes to waste. Along with the weak white-collar job market, the conservative nature of traditional families adds to the chances of a woman being (and remaining) unemployed.

The issue of dissatisfaction among Iranian women clearly demonstrates the paradox. Highly educated girls tend to aim higher and expect more from suitors. Married, well-educated women are generally not as readily contented with their life and certainly not as timid as their mothers were. Meanwhile, the Iranian administration wants a spurt in population growth, which is less likely to happen with a high rate of divorce.

Women’s higher education and working outside the home are, according to some officials, contributing factors to increased marital problems and higher divorce rates. On top of this, most professional women who are married and are willing to have children are inclined to have only one or two kids, which does not meet the administration's preferences.