Contemporary Sexual Dynamics in Iran: Modes of Governance of Sexuality in Post-revolutionary Iran


Roodabeh Dehghani, University of Ottawa

The examination of sexualitys policing, regulation, and control since the Islamic Revolution has been extensively explored. A crucial facet of the recent uprising in Iran revolves around contemporary sexual dynamics. While acknowledging that the state primarily regulates bodies through coercive enforcement of dress codes and related behavioral norms, insufficient attention has been directed towards non-state institutions and knowledge/truth production concerning sexuality. To address this aspect of sexual regulation, this paper introduces the concept of "Projects of Sexuality," informed by Foucaults governmentality framework. Governmentality research endeavors to scrutinize the body of knowledge shaping interventions in the world, spanning institutions like the state, discourses, norms, and identities, along with self-regulation and self-care techniques. The paper initiates with an overview of governmentality as envisioned by Michel Foucault and its convergence with discourse studies. It highlights the constrained adoption of Foucaults ideas in discourse analysis and the role of discourse in governmentality. Subsequently, the paper explores the Sociology of Knowledge Approach to Discourse (SKAD) as a potential framework, aligning more closely with governmentality than other discourse analysis methods. Emphasis is placed on SKADs capacity to tackle the discursive dimension of governmentality and its potential to offer fresh perspectives beyond Eurocentric narratives. Using practical knowledge on sexuality as data, particularly post-revolutionary religious and scientific knowledge production, the paper seeks to shed light on contemporary Projects of Sexuality in Iran.

This paper will be presented at the following session: