Phenomenology of women's political activism in the face of protest events with an emphasis on forms of protest activism in the unrest of 1401

Norowzi, Milad; Rasoli, Farzaneh; Nazari, Fahimeh

doi:10.22034/jsi.2025.2053288.1771

Phenomenology of women's political activism in the face of protest events with an emphasis on forms of protest activism in the unrest of 1401

Authors

milad norowzi ¹

farzaneh rasoli ²

fahimeh nazari ³

¹ PhD in Sociology, Faculty of Humanities, University of Kashan, Kashan, Iran

² PhD student in Political Sociology, Azad University, Research Sciences Branch, Tehran, Iran

³ Department of Communication, Faculty of Welfare, Allameh Tabataba'i University, Tehran, Iran.

10.22034/jsi.2025.2053288.1771

Abstract

This study explored the political activism of women during the 2022 protests in Iran through a phenomenological approach, based on in-depth interviews with 21 female participants in Tehran. The analysis identified ten key themes: resistance to gendered domination, digital mobilization, diverse civil resistance strategies, protest discourse construction, communicative cohesion, resource mobilization, street-centered activism, rejection of religious authority, familial solidarity in the civic sphere, and emergency support networks. These were integrated into the overarching theme of a “networked movement of resistance,” characterized by the fusion of creative organization and physical presence. The findings reveal that the intersection of digital and on-the-ground activism, tactical creativity, and the use of social capital underpin the continuity and effectiveness of women’s political engagement. This form of activism reflects a shift toward everyday, decentralized action that challenges dominant power structures. Enhancing multilayered support systems can further sustain and empower this evolving mode of collective action.

Keywords

Forms of activism

phenomenology

political activism

Networked Movement

Protest Event

Subjects