Iran is currently one of the world’s most youthful nation, having more than half of its population under the age of 20 years. Due to a large number of the youthful citizens, the country has experienced several changes both in the lifestyle and social aspects as the young people become more aggressive in the matters of their country as well as public life. This transformation became notable under the presidency of Mohammad Khatami. Even though he weakened for lack of reforms and failure to fulfill many of his promises, this time marked the beginning of the subtle changes in the Iranian society, and especially amongst the young people. After the 1979 revolution, many Iranians had woken up to their realities of the Islamic Republic that was not struggling for its place in the Islamic world. The children born after 1979 experienced a change in the behavior, and wit time, there were reports of the emergence of degenerate behavior ( Khosravi , 2008). Incidences of youth playing loud music in cars, drug use, parties with alcohol, unmarried couples holding hands and other forms of behaviors that are unacceptable in the Islamic states had risen. These behaviors, which are contrary to the concept of ideal Islamist, have sent shockwaves throughout Iran and its government leading to the intervention measures to crack down on such defiant behaviors.
The Iranian state has characterized its youth in two major ways, the homogenous mass who are devoted to the revolution and the alienated westernized consumers who are seen as a threat to the society. With the government aim being to protect the young people from the western influence that could lead to the invasion of the Western culture into the country, the majority of the youth have been forced to maintain the social order by displaying the modest behavior of an Islam state in public. The Iranian authorities have over the years intensified campaigns that target the young generation and the lifestyle they display. Majority of the behaviors that make up the youth culture has been criminalized in a move to control the way young people behave in public. In his book, "Young and Defiant in Tehran," Shahram Khosravi explains how the young people of Tehranis continue to struggle with the restriction from the officials on the lifestyle and freedom of expression (Khosravi, 2008). The Iranian youth face a lot of restrictions on the way they live and carry themselves in public places. The laws have been introduced to make certain practices illegal and to stop young people from exposing hazardous behaviors in public places. Through his analysis, Khosravi closely looks at the strictures that confront the Iranian youth and means by which transnational cultural influences can penetrate and flourish very first.
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However, as the officials try to contain the degenerate behavior of the youth, the young people have demonstrated resistance and defiance against the official culture and parental dominance. This is evident in the gathering places such as shopping centers and coffee places. While Iranian youth act like young people in any other places, this generation wants more freedom and less parental dominance (Khosravi, 2008). While the officials want to prevent the invasion of the western culture, the Iranian youth continue to show resistance to the Islamic culture by resorting to some western lifestyles such as not getting married and instead choosing to cohabitate. With the rising technology, the youth have even found more avenues to express their defiance and demand for a free space where they live according to western culture. Other than being the sites of opposition, the sites also serve as an alternative space for creative expression where the young Iranians can develop their own culture and generate their freedom and identities.
Reference
Khosravi, S. (2008). Young and defiant in Tehran . University of Pennsylvania Press.
