Women’s Party Activity in the processes of state building Iran: From Legal Barriers and Civil underdevelopment

Activity of political parties is one of the central factors of development in democratic society and it is considered as the third element of democracy and a barometer to measure development of
political structure of countries. Taking in to account obtaining the political power of state as the main function of political parties, there is no other way for women as the half of the population,
in order to enter operational field of the politics and administration of the country, gaining their position in structure of power and reaching higher level, than to act within the framework of
political parties. Since obtaining sources of power most rely on the proper function of parties, lower levels of women participation in higher party positions can be seen as a major challenge in
political demands and discussions over power divisions.
A glance at parties’ situation in Iran and participation rate of women in active parties shows that Iranian women have a small share in party activity like other political positions. None of the
party leadership positions in Iran belongs to women while all the secretaries of the recognizedparties in Iran are men with no exception.
Democratic structures in the world have used two strategies to increase women’s political participation, one uses a legal reform solution, including the quotas for women with a positive discrimination approach in the electoral law And the other boosted the presence of women’s party by persuading parties as the main actors in power and power rotation to use more of their capacity to increase the presence of women in the electoral rolls and seats of power, and through the formation of women’s parties.
The question is, first of all, why women are so marginal in party activity in Iran, and what are the structural barriers to their work in the field of party work in order to overcome politics and enter
official policy assemblies? And second, given the widespread experience of the world in applying the mentioned strategies, what has made it impossible, despite the necessities and requirements of the Iranian society, to eliminate the weakness of women's competitive capacity, to change the legal and civil status so far? And what is the starting point to change this situation.