Abstract
The article deals with the transformation of women's status in Iranian society before and after the Islamic Revolution, up to the present. The main aim is to approach the hitherto little-discussed phenomenon in Iranian society, which is related to social conformism and deals with status of women formed by Islamic feminism respectively; this status can be viewed as socially beneficial, being proclaimed in accordance with Islamic and traditionally conservative norms, but at the same time in odds with these norms in certain respects.
The theme is examined in a case study describing the activities, focus and goals of a leisure centre for women in Esfahan, established to help women in the capital of the province and in the wider area. We intend to find out how and by what means the centre shapes the social status of women: whether it creates a model/ideal of a Muslim woman, how beneficial the result can be for women, and therefore subsequently accepted in broader social strata, could it be beneficial for the Iranian regime for further legitimization and strengthening of its power, or, on the contrary, it comprises tendencies destructive for the Islamic regime.
The issue of women's rights is discussed within the context of Iran's legislative framework; the scope of debates on gender equality is outlined, as well as the dispute over accession to CEDAW and its consequences for the position of women in contemporary Iran.