The Forgotten Body
by: Aslan Noorghasemi2012 - 2022
Experiencing life requires a body. Many aspects of human body were disregarded and not entirely acknowledged in Iran's society, especially among older generations and conservatives. It includes but not limited to matters as simple as dancing or kissing in the streets, expressing sexual desires, talking about menstrual cycles, nearly all feminine physical features such as breasts and long hair, women right to ride a bike or motorcycle, and even owning Barbie dolls! This phenomenon extends beyond the borders of life since one cannot even see any woman's face depicted on the graves.
In my opinion, this is a form of cultural immaturity that has been taken for granted over time and therefore has become the cultural norm. People having this way of thinking tend to formulate public life in a way as though these subjects are non-existent, while, in their private life, they usually seek ways to relieve themselves. However, it comes at the price of violating their principles and adopting a dominating approach in their relationships, for instance. At public level, this perspective brings about an oppressed society filled with confusion and identity crises, especially among younger generations. It seems like building a cage or a prison that even the builder himself gets stuck and unable to escape.
