From the Home Front to the Frontline: The Multifaceted Role of Women in the Sacred Defense from the Perspective of the Supreme Leader

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Yousef Khojir 1
Abolfazl Khoshi 2
Manochehr Zoheiri 3
1 Department of Communication, Faculty of Culture and Communication, Soore International University, Tehran, Iran
2 Department of Medical Ethics, Faculty of Medicine, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
3 Faculty of Culture and Communication, Soore International University, Tehran, Iran
10.30491/jcm.2024.223888
Abstract
Background and Aim: In Islam, women have always held a high and influential status. Islam consistently emphasizes the dignity and rights of women, recognizing their role in various social, cultural, and even military spheres. Throughout Islamic history, women have been devoted wives and mothers and resilient and self-sacrificing role models in different contexts. Many feminist and Western studies either overlook the role of women in wars or analyze it through secular frameworks. The role of women during Iran’s Sacred Defense, as a pivotal subject in contemporary history, has received relatively less attention from researchers and analysts than other research topics. The perspective of the Supreme Leader of Iran, as both a religious and political authority, offers a unique combination of Islamic, revolutionary, and nationalist concepts in analyzing the role of women in the imposed war.
Methods: This study, using Thematic Analysis with Attride’s approach in three stages—global, organizing, and basic themes—was conducted with purposive and criterion-based theoretical sampling. The data were collected through content analysis of the Supreme Leader’s statements from 1982 to October 2024.
Results: The findings of this research reveal that women played a multifaceted and decisive role during the Sacred Defense in family, on the battlefield, in society, and from a spiritual perspective. According to the analysis of the Supreme Leader’s statements, women were not only psychological and emotional supporters of warriors and nurturers of future generations but also actively participated in combat as soldiers, commanders, martyrs, and veterans. This engagement extended beyond personal or familial responsibility, becoming a significant factor in shaping the social identity of Muslim women and promoting a culture of sacrifice and martyrdom.
Conclusion: Through perseverance, sacrifice, and deep belief in Islamic values, women not only achieved victory in the war but also paved the way for fundamental changes in their social and cultural status in the post-war era.
Keywords
Women
Islamic Revolution
Sacred Defense
War
Thematic Analysis
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  • Receive Date 23 October 2024
  • Revise Date 13 December 2024
  • Accept Date 15 December 2024