Farah believed that women should have the opportunity to compete equally with men in all spheres of life, including government service. She declared that “no talented woman will remain unemployed” and emphasized that women in Iran had gained “complete freedom to compete with men for government positions.” These weren’t hollow proclamations. Under her support, the state invested heavily in women’s education and professional development.
She also supported and helped expand the Iranian Women’s Organization, one of the country’s most prominent institutions promoting women’s rights and welfare. Her mother, Farideh Diba, was appointed vice president of the organization, which worked extensively in urban and rural areas alike to raise awareness about women’s legal and social rights. The organization offered literacy programs, vocational training, legal aid, and even family counseling to empower women across social classes.
One of Farah’s most enduring legacies in education was her role in founding Farah Pahlavi University—today known as Al-Zahra University—the first institution of higher education dedicated exclusively to women in Iran. This university symbolized a critical milestone in Iran’s academic landscape and helped normalize the idea of women pursuing advanced degrees in a traditionally male-dominated society.