09.11.2026 20:00
Images of women who face dress codes and inspections in public spaces in Iran spending time in a completely different environment in private sports studios drew attention. In videos shared on social media, women were seen doing pilates and exercising in sportswear in a studio said to be in Tehran.
As restrictions on women's lives in public spaces in Iran continue to be debated, images shared on social media have once again brought different life practices in the country to the agenda.
In the videos, women who appear to have gathered at a sports studio intended for women are seen doing pilates and various exercises. The relaxed demeanor of the women training in sportswear and the atmosphere in the studio form a striking contrast with the clothing inspections encountered on the country's streets.
ONE LIFE ON THE STREETS, ANOTHER IN PRIVATE SPACES
In Iran, women can face various sanctions due to the mandatory headscarf practice and dress codes in public spaces. In private spaces, however, there are environments where women can gather among themselves, exercise, and move more freely.
In the shared images, women are also seen exercising to music in a studio, participating in group workouts, and chatting during breaks.
THE DEBATE OVER PRIVILEGE AND FREEDOM
Private sports facilities in wealthy neighborhoods of Tehran are also being debated in terms of class differences in the country and restrictions on women's daily lives. The ability of women with financial means to access such private services brings criticism that different segments of society cannot benefit from the same areas of freedom.
While the images reveal the difference between the rules in public spaces in Iran and the opportunities offered by private life, they also lay bare the contradictions women face in daily life.