In this recording from the OPENspace Research Seminar series at the Edinburgh College of Art, Mana Taheri Talesh, an Iranian architect and landscape architect and current junior researcher and programme coordinator at the Estonian University of Life Sciences, presents ‘Perception and use of urban green spaces by Iranian women of different generations: a study of gendered spatial injustice’.

Recorded March 2025.

Event description

Perception and use of urban green spaces by Iranian women of different generations: a study of gendered spatial injustice

Iranian women have been fighting for decades under the motto “Woman, Life, Freedom,” and their fight for equality through civil disobedience, symbolizes the ongoing struggle of Iranian women to achieve equality in all spheres of life. This presentation examines the impact of generational changes on Iranian society and emphasises the cultural and social shifts, particularly in the recent generation that faces constant restrictions and grown up with the Islamic regime. Through interviews, the evidence shows how behavioural shifts towards public spaces identify the needs of users, and their techniques to circumvent restrictions vary among generations. It is part of a larger study of gendered spatial injustice, which focuses on the memories and lived experiences of Iranian women in public spaces, where clothing is the most visible and most policed symbol of this inequality. This presentation addresses the following research questions:

1. How do women of different ages currently use public spaces and what barriers do they experience (economic, social, or physical)?

2. What tactics do women use to get around the restrictions placed on them?

Mana Taheri Talesh is an Iranian architect and landscape architect. She worked as an architect in Tehran for 9 years before going to Estonia to study a master in landscape architecture. She is currently a junior researcher and programme coordinator at the Estonian University of Life Sciences. Her research focus is on urban green spaces and their relationship to spatial justice, with a particular emphasis on Iranian women. Through her experimental research, she aims to drive positive changes in the living environment and advocate for justice in all aspects of life.

Watch ‘Perception and use of urban green spaces by Iranian women of different generations: a study of gendered spatial injustice’ directly on Media Hopper Create

 

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