However, the push-back of the Shii clerics made progress difficult, and the government had to contain its promotion of basic women’s rights to the norms of the patriarchal social hierarchy in order to accommodate the clerics. After the abdication of Reza Shah in 1941, the discipline of the government decreased, and women were able to further exercise their rights, including the ability to wear the veil if they wanted. More organization of women’s groups occurred in the 1960s and 70s, and they used the government’s modernization to define and advocate for women’s issues.