9 Reasons Why Mehri Talebi Darestani’s “Hijab Addiction Clinic” Idea is Controversial and Anti-Freedom

4. Reinforcing Gender Inequality and Control

At its core, Darestani’s “Hijab Addiction Clinic” proposal can be seen as part of a larger system of control over women’s bodies and choices. Mandating that women cover themselves according to the state’s specific requirements, and then offering “rehabilitation” to those who resist, perpetuates a structure in which women’s autonomy is subordinated to external dictates. This kind of regulation reinforces the gendered double standard that exists in many conservative societies, where women’s behaviors, dress, and even freedoms are closely monitored and controlled.

The proposal also brings into question the idea of gender equity. By positioning herself as a social authority with the power to determine how women should dress and behave, Darestani is reinforcing a system where women’s lives are subjected to more scrutiny and restriction than those of men. This clinic proposal thus becomes a microcosm of a larger issue: systemic gender inequality and a framework that treats women as objects of control rather than as autonomous individuals.