The Role of Women in the Spread of Superstition in Qajar-Era Iran
Keywords:
women, superstition, Qajar dynasty, popular religion, magicAbstract
Superstition—or, as Dehkhoda defines it, “pleasant but incoherent utterances”—has long provided refuge for human beings wearied by calamity and hardship. Pleasant fantasies and false hopes may have served as a balm for human suffering. In this regard, Iranians, like other peoples and nations, tended to turn toward the supernatural whenever they were unable to identify the natural causes of events. Governments also played a major role in linking the economic and social lives of the Iranian people to supernatural concepts. Owing to its need to restore order and consolidate its authority, the Qajar government increasingly aligned itself with religious discourse, particularly its popular form. Consequently, this form of popular religion rapidly spread among the population, especially among women during the Qajar period. The restrictions and deprivations historically imposed on Iranian women, together with the ignorance and illiteracy resulting from their seclusion within the confines of the andaruni and the monotony of everyday life, made this segment of society more susceptible than others to superstitious beliefs. Moreover, an unstable life and the absence of a secure and appropriate position within the family compelled Iranian women to grasp at any means that promised even a small measure of peace and reassurance. The present study aims to examine and analyze the role of women in the spread of superstition in Qajar-era Iran. To achieve this objective, popular religion, superstition, and the status of women during the Qajar period were investigated, after which cases related to women’s superstitious practices were analyzed. Data were collected through library research, and the study was conducted using a descriptive-analytical approach within the framework of historical research. The findings indicate that the social conditions governing women’s lives and their lack of access to education contributed to the further expansion of superstitious beliefs and their deep penetration into the physical and psychological dimensions of Iranian women’s lives during the Qajar era.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Eidi Mohammad Targhi (Author); Soheila Torabi Farsani (Corresponding Author); Faizollah Boushasb Goush (Author)
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