Sediqeh Dowlatabadi
A feminists and publicist on Iranian women's emancipation
Sediqeh Dowlatabadi
Sediqeh Dowlatabadi born in 1882 in Esfahan. Her father was Haj Mirza Hadi Dowlatabadi, a learned and religious man from an old and highly respected family. She started her education in Persian and Arabic under Sheikh Mohammad Rafi'a Attari in Tehran. Further she studied under teachers of Dar-ol-Fonoun Academy. At 15 she married with Dr. Etezad-ol-Hokama.
In 1917 she went back to Esfahan and founded the first girls school called "Maktab-e Shareiat" and a year later established "Sherkat-e Khavateen-e Esfahan" (Society of Women of Esfahan). But along those activities she founded another school -"Om-ol-Modares"- for poor girls of Esfahan, which had very positive impact on women education.
Sediqeh Dowlatabadi in1919 published the first women gazette in Esfahan called Zaban-e Zanan (The Women's Patois), which faced bitter opposition by the clergies and finally it was banned as criticized the Vosouq-ol-Doleh's treaty.
After closure of Zaban-e Zanan, Sediqeh Dowlatabadi moved to Tehran and published that again as a monthly magazine. At the same time in 1921 she established the "Anjoman-e Azmayesh-e Banovan" (Women's Criterion Association), and played an active role in a movement opposing the use of the foreign goods.
"Zaban-e Zanan" Magazine
In 1923 for study she moved to Paris and obtained a BA degree in Education from Sorbonne University. In spring of 1926, She as the representative of Iranian women attended the tenth congress of "International Alliance for Women's Suffrage".
In early 1928 Sediqeh Dowlatabadi returned to Iran and unveiled (compulsory unveiling of women was introduced in 1936) kept busy with the cultural and educational activities. In October 1928 she was appointed as supervisor of women's education in the Ministry of Education and Fine Arts, and the next year she was appointed as Director General of Women Schools Supervisory Office, and in 1936 she became the president of "Women's Association".
Sediqeh Dowlatabadi from November 1942 republished the "Zaban-e Zanan" magazine in 48 pages. In 1947 she attended the congress of "Women's International League for Peace and Freedom" and delivered a speech on Iranian Women.
Sediqeh Dowlatabadi died at age of 80 on 30 July 1962. In her will she proclaimed: "I will never forgive women who visit my grave veiled". After the Islamic Revolution in August 1980 Islamic vigilantes demolished her tomb and the tombs of her father and brother who, although men of religion, had supported her activities.
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