Even the doors in Iran provide an interesting insight into the local culture and politics of the country.
Door knockers - a sign of the regime?
While women are making a come back in Iran, attending university, working, travelling, pushing for their independence, the ever-present headscarf is one reminder that the law of the land insists they are still veiled, covered and hidden away. Like any uniform, there are plenty of interpretations, with fashions, favourites, trends and individualism found throughout, but ultimately this is a country where women are controlled in ways that we’re simply not used to.
These rules and regulations are even seen in the doors knockers, of which there are traditionally two on any Iranian door. The knockers give two distinctively different sounds when used. So that whoever answered the door knew if it was a woman or man. The idea? To prevent a woman home alone from answering the door to a man who isn’t a relative and risking her purity and innocence. But how do you know which knocker you should use? Take a closer look:
His and hers
…I’ll leave you to work out which one symbolises the male!