Iran as a confluence of cultures and what life must be like in present-day Iran
Due to its special geographical location, Iran’s culture is influenced by many. The influence comes from all location, north south east west, from countries like Itlay, Russia, Arabian Peninsula and the Indian subcontinent. Iran’s rich culture has always been a major part of their identity. However, when the different influences meet each other, Iranians faces problems in integrating the different cultures. The Islamic Revolution which occurred in 1979 is the product of the incapability to embrace different cultures. During the revolution, Islamist revolutionaries opposed the western secular policies of the authoritarian Shah of Iran Mohammed Reza Pahlavi. After the war, the Iranians nowadays lead a life that is unlike their parents or grandparents. The difference between the rich and the poor is huge with some spending up to 100 USD on a meal for 2 while others struggle to pay rents that outstrip their pay more and more as the year goes on.
Nevertheless, education is highly regarded in Iran with adult literacy well above the average of the region at 86.8% (91.2% for men, 82.5% for women), according to Unesco. Unlike the western society, the Iranians often live together and living is seen as an irregular case. However, schools separate the males and the females in school, meaning that it is very hard for teenagers to get to know the opposite gender in school. However, the fact that females are allowed to go to school shows the effect in which the revolution had on Iran. Ever since the revolution, females are getting more opportunities and could even enter civil service and go for higher education. These were all deemed impossible before the revolution and women were made to stay at home, spending the majority of their time servicing the male. As opposed to popular beliefs, Iran is also a generally safe country to travel to and some travellers have also described it as “much safer than travelling in Europe”.
