Interestingly enough while some question the popularity of female bodybuilding in the more progressive West this story points out that at least to some extent women in Tehran are being encouraged to participate in, you guessed it "bodybuilding."

Shahrbanoo Cultural-Sports Complex Opened in Tehran

TEHRAN (FNA)- The first great cultural-sports complex of Shahrbanoo (the lady of the city) opened here on Wednesday in northern Tehran, a municipality official said here on Saturday. The event aims at creating job opportunities for women head of household providing about 20 different training courses based on the requirements of the women in the region, MNA reported.

The training courses include artistic courses of handicrafts, sewing, painting and cooking as well as physical workouts including basketball, volleyball, handball, badminton, table tennis, aerobics, and bodybuilding. Some training workshops on computer, foreign languages, and hairdressing are also to be held in the complex.

Health and consultative services for women, young persons, and families will be provided at the complex as well. The complex also includes a toy house, coffee shop, restaurant and shopping centers. Shahrbanoo complex, constructed in an area of 6900sqm with 30 billion rials worth of investment, began its experimental work to remove all the shortcomings in providing services for the women.
http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=8710091036