Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Still not buying it? You're not the only one. Local surveys indicate that about 70 per-
cent of these women would dress more freely in public, if allowed. Many push the es-
tablished bounds of decency—with belts defining the shape of their bodies and scarves
pulled back to show voluptuous cascades of hair—when out on the streets. When filming,
I found the women's awareness of our camera fascinating—they seemed to sense when it
was near, and would adjust their scarves to be sure their hair was properly covered.
In spite of attempts to enforce modesty, vanity is not out of bounds. Women still util-
ize their feminine charms. In a land where showing any cleavage in public is essentially
against the law, a tuft of hair above the forehead becomes the exciting place a man's eye
tends to seek out. Cosmetic surgery—especially nose jobs—is big business here among
the middle class. Faces are beautifully made up, and—when so much else is covered—can
be particularly expressive and mysterious. Throughout Iran, I was impressed by the eye
contact.
Women are covered, yet beautiful… a wisp of hair can be ravishing.
Trying to grasp Iran's mandated modesty in Christian terms, I imagined living in a so-
ciety where every woman is forced to dress like a nun. Seeing spunky young Muslim wo-
