Oppression In Persepolis

Words: 1415
Pages: 6

Oppression of Women in Persepolis Marjane Satrapi is an Iranian artist and writer who was born in November 22nd, 1969, during the Islamic Revolution in 1979 which resulted in the oppression in women with significant symbol of the veil. In Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi the main character, lives in Iran and during her time all women were required to wear the veil; it had no age limit. With the fear of consequences and punishment, this caused women to wear a veil that only leaves their face uncovered and their hands exposed. In Persepolis, Satrapi uses graphic novel as a way to demonstrate to the Western culture how the East has been misrepresented. Satrapi uses the veil as a symbol to show the oppression of women during the Islamic revolution …show more content…
Women who refused to wear the veil were threatened with beating, rape or even death. The Iranian regime forced its control on children by forcing segregating the schools, and separating boys and girls furthermore making girls wear the headscarf which most girls at young age were against it because it was too uncomfortable and they did not know the reason why they had to wear it. “ Then came 1980, the year it became obligatory to wear veil at school.” (3). “ We did not really like to wear the veil, especially since we didn’t understand why we had to.” (3). The parents during that time had no options but to follow the rules that the regime made. But most citizens of Iran formed a protest. Reformation in Iran comes with the protests, violence and eventually war which disguise the chance of childhood for the youth of the country. (4), Marjane says “ We found ourselves veiled and separated from our friends.” Ever since Marjane was a young girl, she wanted to stand with the people that were against the veil. She asked her parents if she could protest with them . “ I want to come with you tomorrow.” (16) Marjane said. Her mom respond by saying “ To where ?”. Marjane responded by saying “To demonstrate on the street! I am sick and tired of doing it in the back yard. For a revolution to succeed, the entire population must report it.” (17). But here parents were strongly disagree with her suggestion. The …show more content…
Also the veil became second main issue in Iran . Instead of passive women accepting the enforced veil wearing usually represented oppression. During the Islamic Revolution, women gathered together to discuss about the issue they are facing against the regime. They were defending themselves from oppression from the extreme men and women. Women that were against the veil, they would go out and protest. And women that were supporting the veil, would come up and try to demolish the protest. “ Everywhere in the streets there were demonstrations for and against the veil.” (5). The words the women's were that were against the veil was Freedom! And women's. That were with the veil would say The Veil! The veil was on on their list. The Shah said: “Women's hair emanates rays that excite men. That is why women must cover their hair! If in fact it is really more civilized to go out without the veil, then animals are more civilized. That we are” (74). “ In no time, the way people dressed became an ideological sign. There were two kinds of women. The fundamentalist women and the modern women.” (75). The fundamentalist women are those who wear full dress that cover their whole body except their hands and face. And the modern women show opposition to the regime by letting a few strands of hair