Despite historical blindness to women's participation in various social and political movements in Iran, scattered accounts show women's involvement in local and national protests, such as riots against bread scarcity, rising prices, and tax increases. Since at least the mid-nineteenth century, women have made enormous contributions to efforts for social change in Iran.

The development of gender consciousness and the women's rights struggle were hindered by sexual segregation and restrictive moral codes, which deprived women of access to literacy,…