Why not Sabzi Polo with Fish
Why not Sabzi Polo with Fish? Are the profanity and slogans based on sexist and derogatory language in line with the protesters’ goals, or do they contradict them? Some believe these are just expressions of anger, while others argue that slogans containing obscene language are not only impolite but also oppose the main slogan of ‘Woman, Life, Freedom’ and reproduce the patriarchal structure. Sexual and non-sexual profane slogans were first heard from the streets and marketplaces.
From Nazi Abad, from gatherings of Iranians abroad, and later even infiltrated universities to the point where some conservatives attacked students, labeling them as vulgar, impolite, and disrespectful.
Protesters swear because it seems they have reached their limit and can no longer tolerate the situation. In a state of desperation, swearing is a form of intense emotional release, usually explosive. Swearing is essentially the shrapnel of an inner explosion. The emotion released in swearing stems from intense anger, and the more intense the anger, the harsher or, as they say, the ‘juicier’ the swear.
Hossein Ghazian, a social researcher, points out that one of the ‘juiciest’ swears is the one targeting honor, because in a patriarchal social tradition, honor is the most important element. Thus, swearing that targets honor provides the greatest opportunity for emotional release, and its pent-up energy is explosively discharged. When an individual or group lacks other tools of objective conquest and dominance, they use sexual swearing to express symbolic victory.
Profane Slogans and the Issue of Universities
They say the starting point of the harsh confrontation that occurred on the evening of Sunday, October 2nd, at Sharif University was these slogans containing profanity, specifically a particular swear, which drove the other side crazy and gave them an excuse for a brutal attack on the students.
In fact, if the unconventional slogans had remained confined to the streets and alleys, they wouldn’t have provoked such a reaction as they did in the university. Some have advised that students should consider the damage they do to their reputation by repeating them and even question the origin of the slogan. For better or worse, society expects something different from students and universities compared to other segments, and disappointment in them leaves a deep wound on the protest movement.
Reproduction of a Culture of Rape
Some believe that the issue is not just about venting anger because one person, in the height of anger, says ‘Woman, Life, Freedom,’ while another uses their genitalia as a threat. Sexism, with a kind of superiority complex, says ‘Don’t say anything to me because I’m angry,’ but the one who gives a progressive slogan knows that the space for sexual and gender minorities becomes unsafe due to these slogans. On this basis, misogyny, violence, and rape against women stem from the same culture that creates the slogan ‘Sabzi Polo with Fish.’
That is, a culture of rape—a culture that has claimed millions of victims throughout history. A culture that sees male sexual desire as a tool for expressing power, humiliation, and torture. A culture that views the enemy’s sister’s, mother’s, and wife’s bodies as his land and field, which should be plowed if reached, regardless of who they are or what they’ve done. A movement whose slogan is ‘Woman, Life, Freedom’ does not use its genitalia as a threat to the world.
Criticism Directed at the Goal
They say the function of a slogan is to keep the fire of anger and the light of hope alive in the heart of the chanter and to prompt the inactive or indecisive gray individual to action. For example, if someone is shot while chanting ‘Freedom,’ surely their friend, comrade, and brother will rise in support, even if they were indifferent before. But someone who shouts ‘Sabzi Polo’ like a street food vendor pushes even their companion towards passivity. A slogan that the media has to censor half of it with beeps—is it even heard to have any function?
However, some believe that profanity in political action breaks the false charisma of power or the power holder and levels it to the ground so thoroughly that rebuilding it becomes impossible. Yet others believe that the spread of slogans containing obscene profanity causes the gray segment or those leaning towards power or their social base not only to fail to sympathize with the protesters over time but also to become more distant from them or more steadfast in their current stance.
Ableist and Derogatory Slogans
Some believe that if we are to discard outdated ideas, ableist thoughts must also be reformed. Referring to a specific slogan whose videos have been published, they say this slogan is against the disabled, using the ruler’s behavior and power as a worthy trait for contempt instead of condemning the disability. When being disabled is considered deserving of contempt, it preemptively justifies social hierarchies and determines that an out-of-norm body indicates being less human.
On the other hand, it is said that this slogan also conflicts with ‘Woman, Life, Freedom’ because women’s bodies, along with the disabled, are outside the beauty norms and are among the bodies that have been humiliated, possessed, and dehumanized. Objectifying them by power is considered legitimate and even desirable. Therefore, in a protest movement, all the excluded must be considered.
Iran Gate has been reporting and analyzing the event from the first moments of Mahsa Amini’s death by the morality police. You can search for related content using this keyword.
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