Stealthy no more | Woman Life Freedom Iran

"There are two vastly different kinds of hijabs: the democratic hijab, the head covering that a woman chooses to wear, and the tyrannical hijab, the one that a woman is forced to wear." - Masih Alinejad Iran, September 16, 2022. A young woman died because of showing a few strands of hair and a country exploded. The impulse to control women is hardwired into every culture. But women are standing up. This fight is NOT anti-hijab or against any religion. It's about freedom, choice, not being harassed every time you leave the house, arrested, abused, killed. For me, being a feminist means identifying with the rights of all women worldwide. That's why I went to Tehran to support, through my photography, the women of Iran. As a foreigner I was able to tell their story in ways that wouldn’t be safe for them. The windows of my Tehran apartment covered with tinfoil so the flash wouldn’t be visible from outside, we were safe to let creativity flow. The women threw their headscarf in the air and as it inescapably floated back to them, I captured their act of defiance. After the death of Mahsa Amini, I went back to my archives; many images didn't make the cut first time around. I saw them again, saw the power in them, the courage of the women who participated, and decided to create this second series. This new series is lighter, more colorful and has creative expression, a reflection of hope for a new time, without oppression, without restrictions, without censorship.