Iran and equality

           In chapter 12, Roskin states that many Iranians are against replacing their traditional culture with Western culture. No necessarily that they do not want to be modern, because they do, but they would like to do it within their own means of values and religion. 

Today, the Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, a religious moderate, was endorsing gender equality. He publicly stated that he is not in favor of "those who consider women's presence in society as a threat". He admitted that Iran still has a ways to go in terms of achieving equality opportunities and rights for men and women, however I believe this is a clear example of Iran's modernity. 

President Rouhani said that Islamic rules state that "man is not the stronger sex and woman is not the weaker one." With that being said, is religious documentation as a reference enough to change the Iranian people's views on gender equality in their country? A few cases that prove otherwise: Last year, a constitutional body in Iran ruled that women could not run in presidential elections, only parliament. The year prior to last, several universities in Iran banned females from about 80 degree courses. This an example of how people can be stuck in the hole of traditional thinking without opening their eyes to the fact that women have made an impact on society.
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