The Manifold Faces of Political Resistance: The Woman, Life, Freedom Movement

Abstract

Abstract The Woman, Life, Freedom (WLF) movement in Iran embodies radical and progressive ideals (e.g., a secular constitution, autonomy for women, right to bodily integrity and a decent life) in a country with a repressive, patriarchal, and electoral authoritarian political system. We describe the WLF movement and explain how a diverse range of creative acts of resistance has provided the movement with a rich repertoire of cultural and symbolic capital. We discuss three main qualities of the WLF—its lack of centralized leadership and organizational structure, its spontaneity, and its informal cooperative nature—and highlight how oppositional lifestyle and identities preceded the WLF movement. Finally, we discuss two neglected theoretical issues in psychological literature on collective action: (a) the body as a site of resistance, and (b) the role of articulation in resistance. We discuss the implications of the focus on the body and articulation for the social psychology of resistance.