Like most Iranians, in the past week it has been impossible to pull myself away from Twitter or CNN for more than 10 minutes.

As much as it pains me to see my countrymen and women being killed in the streets, I am going to be selfish and say that I do see a silver lining in all the wrong that’s going on there.

From all of the images that are coming in from Iran, I am glad people can put to rest the stereotypes that have been made about Iranian women.

Prior to these recent events, people never believed me when I told them that Persian women do not over their faces with their veils. I would get funny looks when I would tell people that women do have the right to vote in my country, and a college education.

Since these recent events, I cannot tell you how many time I have heard people say, “Did you see all the women out there on the streets? I didn’t think they were allowed to do that.”

I am not saying women in Iran are equal to men in any way, rather their lifestyles are not as oppressive as those in other Middle Eastern countries and the public should recognize that.

Iran, like many countries, has a long way to go before there is equality among the sexes, but at least now people can see that they are farther ahead than they once thought.

It’s just heartbreaking that it took such events to make the world see that.

Allah Akbar (God is great)!