Girls selling on the streets of Iran have come out with the dream of a better life. Recent social and economic protests and internet outages have shut down many online businesses, pushing women to sell their handmade products on the streets.
A Change in Women's Livelihoods
The internet was cut off in Iran for 89 days, and after its limited return, many users who relied on online income lost their jobs. In this context, a new wave of street selling by women began; from offering homemade food and handicrafts to selling items like jewelry and bags.
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Street vendors come from various age groups; from 17-year-olds to women striving to support their grandchildren. There are even children among them who have been selling on Instagram or other online platforms since the age of 12, emphasizing that they are not "child laborers" and are also successful in their studies.
New Challenges and Hope for Tomorrow
Many of these women vendors also have pages on Instagram where they promote their goods. However, it seems that their market is not thriving. One vendor from Bandar Abbas points out the emptiness of the beach in a video, saying: "No matter how much I say on Instagram that I am at this place and time, the situation of the people in the city is like this; no one is out."
The history of street vending in Iran goes back to earlier periods, but nowadays, street vendors have significantly increased in cities. Elham Morad, a facilitator and local development researcher, says: "The streets of the city have become the physical branches of Instagram."
Although municipal and metro officials confront street vendors, a government meeting has ordered that these individuals not be harassed. This decision could help many women continue their efforts to earn income without fear of confrontation.
Rising prices and economic instability in Iran have created new challenges for these women. They face difficulties in replacing sold goods, and their efforts to gain customers' trust are affected by this instability. Nevertheless, one of the street vendor girls motivates her peers by saying: "Girls, working is not shameful at all. Just focus on earning an income."
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