Women's role in contemporary Iranian economy has either been ignored or portrayed as suppressed by the state's so-called "Islamic" ideologies and policies. This thesis argues that while the post-revolutionary state's Islamization attempted to create a particular gender system that excludes women from the labour market, it has proved to be unsuccessful. This imposed gender system has failed to achieve its goals due to both unstable economic conditions and through the active role women have played in opposing this set of ideologies. Concurrently, Iranian women have confirmed themselves as income-earning and economically productive individuals, contributing to the social and economic well being of their families as well as their country. The field study herein focuses on a sample of these economically active women, including both formally employed women and women who have set up (informal) businesses at home. It is argued that both groups of women contribute significant monetary income to the household and consequently to the economic and social development of their nation. In doing so they also challenge state ideologies and policies that restrict their economic and social role.

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