Reconsidering the Visual Sphere of Femininity in Tehran

Abstract A large proportion of the designed visual sphere of Tehran consists of murals. One noteworthy feature in the evolution of these murals that has been little investigated is the portrayal of women. This article explores women’s reception of and preferences about the visual sphere of femininity in Tehran. It draws on the analysis of both officially commissioned and unsanctioned visual representations of women in the city to offer a new understanding of the development of urban policies of gender empowerment, employing subjective methods of inquiry. The working hypothesis that guides this research is that spatial practices represent and appropriate the space in which they occur. The findings suggest that unsanctioned urban artistic practices in Tehran represent subjective aspirations for more egalitarian gender relations in their society. Moreover, the findings indicate a collective preference among female Tehraners for a visual sphere that shows an empowered image of women.