Generation Z
Gen Z is different from their parents and grandparents. They “don’t appear to have the same fears or trepidations of previous generations,” because they did not live through the revolution of 1979 or the Iran-Iraq war (Saric, 2022). These young protesters are also tech-savvy, using social media to spread their message despite the heavy internet restrictions. This resource is a key factor in why their protests continue, even in the face of violence and repression.
Students as young as 13, such as Nina, a schoolgirl whose actions attracted international attention, have become symbols of resistance. Nina and her classmates used WhatsApp to coordinate and simultaneously remove their headscarves, defying Iran’s strict dress codes (Moaveni, 2023). This defiance is especially significant in a culture where respect for elders and authority has traditionally been ingrained. For older generations, open disobedience and protests like these were not the norm, making this movement a clear break from the past. It is important to note that these young protesters are not just defying the regime’s authority but also challenging societal elders who support or follow the government’s policies, showing multiple layers of resistance.
Holly Dargres adds that many in Gen Z didn’t even bother to vote in recent elections because they see the system as corrupt and rigged. They don’t believe that reformists can fix the problems in the country. Instead, they are challenging the government through acts of disobedience, and it’s having an impact (Dargres, 2024). “In late March, in the capital, with the snow-dusted Alborz Mountains towering over the city, women were shopping, shepherding toddlers, riding the metro, and lunching on saffron risotto with their heads uncovered” (Moaveni, 2023).
Unlike previous generations, who may have feared direct confrontation, these young Iranians are demanding immediate change. Their courage and ability to challenge the status quo show that this generation is reshaping the future of the country.
-K.A.
References:
Dagres, Holly. 2024. “Opinion | Iran’s Gen Z Is Still Waiting for the Revolution.” The New York Times, July 10, 2024, sec. Opinion. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/10/opinion/iran-gen-z-politics.html.
Moaveni, Azadeh. 2023. “The Protests inside Iran’s Girls’ Schools.” The New Yorker. August 7, 2023. https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2023/08/14/the-protests-inside-irans-girls-schools.
Saric, Ivana. 2022. “‘No Going Back’: Gen Z at the Forefront of the Protests in Iran.” Axios. October 17, 2022. https://www.axios.com/2022/10/17/iran-protests-gen-z-mahsa-amini-death.
Basmechi, Farinaz. 2022. “How Gen Z Is Using Social Media in Iran’s Women, Life, Freedom Movement.” The Conversation. December 19, 2022. https://theconversation.com/how-gen-z-is-using-social-media-in-irans-women-life-freedom-movement-195783.
“Gen Z Iranian Women Hold the Future - Ms. Magazine.” n.d. Msmagazine.com. https://msmagazine.com/2022/10/21/gen-z-iranian-women-mahsa-amini/.
Ghobadi, Parham. 2022. “Nika Shakarami: Iran Protester’s Family Forced to Lie about Death - Source.” BBC News, October 6, 2022, sec. Middle East. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-63154994.
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