Moulding Future Soldiers and Mothers of the Iranian Nation: Gender and Physical Education under Reza Shah, 1921–41

Dressed for Success: Hegemonic Masculinity, Elite Men and Westernisation in Iran, c.1900–40

“…Moreover, general conscription, decreed in 1924, was promoted as supporting the goal of strengthening the body and morals of young Iranians. 77 Rather than becoming a demand of masculinity in and of itself, military service was presented as aiding the procurement of masculine traits such as physical fitness. It is interesting to notice that despite the great sums and efforts dedicated to the strengthening of the Iranian army under Reza Shah, and despite the fact that the Shah himself was a military figure, it seems that soldiers did not become masculine role models, and military service was not incorporated into hegemonic masculinity.…”