Life in Iran Before the Islamic Revolution in 1979: An Iranian-American Ex-Muslim Perspective
By Bobby Darvish - darvishintelligence.blogspot.com
As an Iranian-American ex-Muslim, I often reflect on the days before the Islamic Revolution in 1979—a time when Iran was a vastly different country from what it is today. The revolution not only transformed Iran politically but also changed the cultural, social, and religious landscape in ways that many Iranians, including myself, did not foresee. My family lived through the Shah's era, and though I wasn’t present for all of it, their stories and the historical records have given me a deep understanding of life before the Ayatollahs seized power.
A Modernizing Society
Under Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi, the Iran of the 1960s and 1970s was rapidly modernizing. The Shah’s regime was deeply committed to Westernization and modernization, particularly through his "White Revolution," a series of economic, social, and educational reforms initiated in 1963. Women were granted the right to vote, educational opportunities expanded, and the country saw significant advancements in healthcare and infrastructure . For many, this was a time of relative prosperity and progressive change. My parents, for instance, remember the rise of modern universities and cultural exchanges with the West. They would tell me about how Tehran, Isfahan, and Shiraz were vibrant cities, often compared to major European cities due to their development and cosmopolitan nature.
The Shah, heavily influenced by Western powers, especially the United States and the United Kingdom, was working toward a secular state, one where religion was a personal matter and not imposed by the government. This vision was shared by many middle- and upper-class Iranians who embraced the cultural shift toward a more liberal, Westernized way of life. It was common to see men and women mingling freely in public, something that would later become almost unthinkable after the Revolution. Women wore fashionable clothes—skirts, dresses, and makeup—and the hijab was largely optional. Even now, I remember family photos from those days showing my aunts and grandmothers, unveiled, enjoying life in cafés and attending concerts .
Women's Rights and Educational Opportunities
One of the most significant changes during the Shah’s era was the increased rights and opportunities for women. Iranian women were active participants in the workforce and could pursue education and careers that had previously been restricted to men. The Family Protection Law of 1967 granted women greater rights in marriage, divorce, and child custody, placing Iran ahead of many other Middle Eastern countries at the time in terms of women's rights .
My mother once told me about her dream of becoming a teacher. She was able to attend university and pursue that dream because of these reforms. I think about how different her life—and mine—would have been if the revolution hadn’t upended these opportunities. Iran had one of the most progressive educational systems in the region, and women, especially from the middle and upper classes, were among the primary beneficiaries.
Cultural Life and Freedom of Expression
Iran before the Islamic Revolution was a hub of artistic and cultural expression. The country’s film industry, music, literature, and art were flourishing. Iranian cinema of the time was internationally recognized, with directors like Dariush Mehrjui and Bahram Beyzai making films that are still celebrated today. Persian pop music dominated the airwaves, with artists such as Googoosh becoming national icons. I grew up hearing about the great music concerts, theater performances, and art galleries that were part of the urban Iranian experience . There was a palpable sense of cultural vibrancy, and while Iran had a monarchy, it didn’t have the kind of cultural censorship that would come with the Islamic regime.
Free expression was not unlimited under the Shah, as political dissent was often harshly suppressed, but there was still more space for intellectual debate and artistic freedom than what would follow after 1979. Writers, poets, and philosophers could engage with a broad array of ideas, both from Iran’s ancient past and the modern West. However, political dissent was a different matter. The Shah's secret police, SAVAK, were notorious for cracking down on those who opposed the monarchy. This, in many ways, sowed the seeds of the revolution, as many Iranians felt stifled by the political repression .
Economic Growth and Inequality
Economically, Iran was thriving, at least on the surface. Thanks to its vast oil reserves, the Shah's government was able to finance major infrastructure projects and foster industrial growth. Iran's economy was growing rapidly, and many people, particularly in urban areas, enjoyed a high standard of living. Tehran, the capital, became a bustling metropolis with towering skyscrapers, modern shopping malls, and a highly developed infrastructure .
However, there was another side to this prosperity. The gap between the wealthy and the poor was widening, and many rural areas were left behind in the Shah’s rapid modernization efforts. This inequality, coupled with the political repression, led to widespread discontent, particularly among the lower classes and the religious clerics who saw the Shah's secular policies as a threat to Islam.
The Role of Religion Before 1979
Before the revolution, Islam was a part of life in Iran, but it didn’t dominate society as it does today. The Pahlavi regime sought to reduce the influence of the clergy and promote secularism. Religious leaders, particularly those in Qom, opposed the Shah's modernization efforts, which they saw as an affront to Islamic traditions. Ayatollah Khomeini, who would later lead the Islamic Revolution, was one of the most vocal critics of the Shah’s secular policies .
Yet, many Iranians, including my family, practiced Islam in a way that was personal and private, without the pressures of religious policing. Islam was important, but it didn’t dictate every aspect of public and private life. The rise of political Islam and the eventual dominance of the clergy in 1979 was a sharp departure from the relatively moderate and pluralistic approach to religion that had existed before.
Conclusion
Life in Iran before the Islamic Revolution was a complex blend of modernization, cultural vibrancy, and political tension. My family's experience, like that of many Iranians, was shaped by the opportunities for education and cultural freedom that existed at the time, but also by the underlying discontent that led to the revolution. The Iran of the Shah was far from perfect, but it was a country moving toward a more progressive, modern future—one that was abruptly halted and reversed by the events of 1979.
Today, as an Iranian-American ex-Muslim, I see the loss of those freedoms and opportunities as one of the great tragedies of modern history. The revolution promised justice and equality, but it delivered repression and theocracy. Looking back, it's clear that while the Shah's Iran had its flaws, it also had immense potential—a potential that was cut short by the revolution.
Citations:
- Abrahamian, Ervand. Iran Between Two Revolutions. Princeton University Press, 1982.
- Paidar, Parvin. Women and the Political Process in Twentieth-Century Iran. Cambridge University Press, 1995.
- Milani, Abbas. The Shah. Palgrave Macmillan, 2011.
- Axworthy, Michael. Revolutionary Iran: A History of the Islamic Republic. Oxford University Press, 2013.
- Keddie, Nikki R. Modern Iran: Roots and Results of Revolution. Yale University Press, 2006.
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