TEHRAN , Iran ( CNN ) -- There 's no doubt that Iran 's election will be a major test for incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad . But many Iranian women hope the results will also shake the current status of women in the Islamic republic . Zahra Rahnavard , wife of Iranian candidate Mir Hossein Moussavi , has taken a visible role in the campaign . `` Thirty-four million women demand to have female Cabinet ministers ; 34 million women demand to be eligible to run for president , '' Zahra Rahnavard , wife of reformist candidate Mir Hossein Moussavi , told CNN 's Christiane Amanpour . `` Thirty-four million women want the civil law to be revised ; 34 million women want the family law revised . '' Whether her husband wins or loses Friday , Rahnavard has broken barriers for women just by appearing on the campaign trail with her husband , a rarity for political wives in Iran . `` We look at her , and we say , 'We want to be like her in the future , ' `` said Shakiba Shakerhosseie , an Iranian woman who packed into Tehran 's indoor Azadi ( Freedom ) sports stadium along with nearly 12,000 others to hear Rahnavard speak in March . Rahnavard is a mother of three , as well as an accomplished artist and academic . She has been compared to first ladies in the United States , including Michelle Obama , for her visible role in her husband 's quest for the presidency . `` I am here to say that men and women are equal , '' Rahnavard said . Iran became an Islamic republic in 1979 after the ruling monarchy was overthrown and Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi was forced into exile . The revolution also ended the ceremonial role of first lady that the last queen , Farah , enjoyed . More women than men have voted in the past few elections , and Rahnavard has made a promise to her female supporters that their vote will count this time if Moussavi wins . `` We have made this promise to the women , and we will stand by it , '' she said . Iranian women remain second-class citizens in criminal matters , divorce , child custody and inheritance cases , despite making up 65 percent of university students . Ahmadinejad 's fundamentalist government has tried to make it easier for men to take more than one wife while restricting public sector careers for women . This year , for the first time , the Guardian Council announced that a woman could legally be among the final candidate list . Out of the 42 women who registered , however , none was ultimately allowed to stand . Even Zahra Eshraghi , granddaughter of revolutionary leader Ayatollah Khomeini , was banned from running for parliament as a reformist . `` For Ahmadinejad 's government , women are just living things , '' Eshraghi said . `` A woman is there to fill her husband 's stomach and raise children . '' Watch one analyst talk about women in Ahmadinejad 's Iran » . Moussavi is not the only candidate calling for a stronger role for women in Iran . Mehdi Karroubi , the only cleric in the presidential race , has promised to campaign for women 's rights . Hard-line conservative candidate Mohsen Rezaie also said he would have female ministers if he wins the election . Political science professor Mohammad Marandi downplayed Rahnavard 's impact on the outcome of Friday 's election . He said she may win over reformists and women , but what will win the election is a solution to the floundering economy and a strong performance in the debates . iReport.com : Iranians rally in large numbers . `` If Ahmadinejad does well in the debates , I do n't think anyone will be able to defeat him , '' Marandi said . But try selling that to Rahnavard 's enthusiastic supporters . `` This is the first time after the revolution we see a lady behind the president , '' Farhad Mahmoudi said . `` And this is why we 're so happy , because we can have a first lady . '' CNN 's Reza Sayah and Christiane Amanpour contributed to this report .
Shah 's wife has broken barriers by appearing on campaign posters . She said that women 's votes will count if her husband wins . Most Iranian university students are women , but they are second - class citizens . Cleric running for president has also promised to boost women 's vote .