What's up with Iranian women these days?

I can understand that they organize a Film Festival, but what's the need of having a taxi company that caters only for women?


There seems to be a strange isolationist movement in this generally open and sociable community. Normally it's easy enough to start a conversation with Iranian women on the streets of Tehran. Casual, friendly approaches are welcome and smiles exchanged. So where's the need of a taxi company that will refuse to carry male customers?


The problem may lie in shared taxis. These are not ordinary taxis, who can be hired privately to take you anywhere. Shared taxis travel certain busy roads in a predefined direction, and pick up anybody who goes in that direction. Typically they flash or honk on the street signalling availability of a seat, and you reply (shout) the name of the place where you want to go. Even simpler, you can say "mostaghem" which means straight on.


Shared taxis are cheap, usually quite clean and full of friendly iranians with whom you can discuss politics, weather or football. However, they are quite cramped, especially when full with five passengers. That's the moment when some women may feel uncomfortable: buses and metro have women-only compartments, but shared taxis may see a girl amidst two fat men on the back seat of a Paykan sedan, which may not be the most pleasant experience in the world.


Will women-only taxis stick? I don't think so. They may find a niche market, but I still believe that the majority of taxis will continue to be mixed. And in a place where segregation of sexes is still quite present, conversing with the occasional (usually beautiful) Iranian girl while on the way to work makes you happy to be away from Europe.