Post by : Rameen Ariff

In a remarkable shift, women are increasingly taking to motorbikes and scooters in Tehran, challenging established cultural norms and conservative restrictions. Traditionally, some clerics have perceived women riding motorcycles as "tabarruj" — a display of beauty deemed inappropriate under strict Islamic principles.

Merat Behnam, 38, has recently embraced commuting on her yellow scooter to her downtown café. Initially, she was apprehensive about traffic and city congestion, but the prospect of disapproving glances and potential verbal harassment felt even more overwhelming. Despite these challenges, she has discovered considerable acceptance among the residents of Tehran.

“It was a big deal for me,” Behnam shared. “At first, I was quite stressed, but over time, the reactions of people really encouraged me.”

Legal and Cultural Barriers
Up until recently, Iranian traffic laws limited motorcycle licenses to men, reflecting a gender-biased interpretation of the Farsi language. Although women have been able to obtain car licenses and pursue careers since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, riding motorcycles remained a cultural taboo.

Conservative clerics argue that women cannot maintain modesty while riding motorcycles, as both hands are occupied, and exposure to wind is unavoidable. Lawmakers like Mohammad Seraj have emphasized the necessity of “appropriate covering” for women on bikes.

A Growing Trend
Tehran's streets, congested with over 4 million vehicles alongside a similar number of motorcycles, have made two-wheeled commuting a practical solution. Following the mass protests of 2022 and a rising trend of women shedding their hijabs, many Iranian women are breaking from tradition and taking up motorcycling to navigate heavy traffic efficiently and sidestep high congestion fees.

Although they remain a minority, women riders are increasingly visible in the city, indicative of independence and a subtle social evolution. Reformist voices have begun advocating for changes to licensing laws to formally permit women to ride motorcycles, viewing this practice as a symbol of choice, autonomy, and equal engagement in urban life.

Changing Perceptions
For Behnam, riding her scooter has resulted in positive interactions with authorities. Traffic officers have provided practical advice rather than punitive measures, hinting at a possible change in enforcement attitudes toward women riders.

“There is no political agenda here,” Behnam emphasized. “It’s merely about commuting effectively. Yet, it conveys a broader message of choice and independence for women in Iran.”

This growing trend of women on motorbikes underscores the changing dynamics between tradition and modernity in Tehran, illustrating a society progressively redefining the roles of women in public spaces.

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