This weeks reading includes Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi. Persepolis is a graphic novel that uncovers themes such as power, gender inequality, and political uproar in Iran during the Islamic Revolution. One important thing to remember while reading this book is the climate in which this book was written. In many countries today, including Iran, this book is banned. Satrapi was an outlier in using her voice to expose the Iranian government and its many flaws which explains why the government would not want to be represented this way in their own country.
The gender inequality that is portrayed in this novel only scratches the surface as to what women deal with in Iran on a day to day basis. Before the Islamic Revolution, Iran was a completely different place. Women accounted for more than 60% of students, held business and political positions, and wore trendy clothing, clothing that would be considered extremely inappropriate there now. After 1979, the new Islamic standards were completely changed and women began to be severely oppressed. For example in the novel, women in Iran were, and still are, forced to wear veils to cover their face and hair because hair excites men and distracts them, women were told to “beat their breasts” everyday as a ritual, and are often raped before execution due to the rule that a virgin is not to be executed. These rules are not just a part of history, they are happening today in order to make women feel that they are incompetent and lesser. Today some rules restricting women include females being banned from watching men play sports in stadiums, restrictions against birth control due to the government wanting Iran to be more populous, women having to get approval from their husbands in order to travel outside of the country, along with strict speaking rules that could result in jail time for talking negatively on the Iranian government. Women in Iran attempted to stand up for themselves by creating a petition of One Million Signatures in 2006 to attempt to reform discriminatory laws, however their external efforts were shut down and many women got punished by prison, getting their passports revoked, and many have been barred from the education system. There is currently a paradox in Iran between the government fighting for more control over Iranian women, stating that gender equality is unacceptable to the Islamic Revolution, and those fighting for equality and change. Below I have attached a video from Time that highlights the struggles of women in Iran over time.
Sources:
“Challenging Iran’s Women’s Rights Narrative (Opinion).” CNN, Cable News Network, 24 Mar. 2015, www.cnn.com/2015/03/24/middleeast/sanei-iran-treatment-of-women/.
Pfister, Camille. “Persepolis: The Role of Women.” Bulb, 23 Apr. 2018, www.bulbapp.com/u/persepolis-the-role-of-women.
“The Struggle for Women’s Rights in Iran.” Www.youtube.com, TIME, 10 Mar. 2020, www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIv3dLiB0h8.
Tavaana. “One Million Signatures: The Battle for Gender Equality in Iran.” Tavaana, 23 Sept. 2019, tavaana.org/en/en/content/one-million-signatures-battle-gender-equality-iran.
Wow this was really helpful. I appreciate the detailed context information you provided. It made it easier for me to understand the time period and political climate Marjane Satrapi wrote about. It is unfortunate to hear that the Iranian government supports the oppression of women. Gender inequality and socially unjust laws have weekend Iran’s ability to advance socially and economically for decades. In the linked video, it appears that an overwhelming majority of women disagree with the strict dress code and rules they are forced to abide by. The activists standing up for female rights are extremely brave. The threat of imprisonment, or in some cases death, would be enough to steer most people away from protesting. This makes me appreciate the freedoms we experience in America significantly more.
This is a great post! It’s really sad to think that this country has went backwards in women’s rights. The fact they used to make up so much of the work force, as well as wear what they want, to now be so suppressed in this day and age. It’s very powerful that Satrapi had the guts to publish this, and I’d say that makes her an icon for women’s advocacy.
I agree with your comment that this country has gone backwards in women rights. A long time ago, Im thinking like Hunter/Gatherer period, women were expected to car for the men and cook the dinner, and now a days its even rare to find a women who willingly wants to stay home rather than going to work. Satripi and her family faced a plethora of different challenges and gender inequality and social injustices are responsible for a large amount of their hardships.
This post was informative, and really puts into perspective the obstacles Satrapi and her family were facing, especially since they continued to be active in protests and demonstrations. It’s also important to note that the oppressions faced by women vary depending on other factors or parts of their identity. Their oppression is not one single story. This post really shows the bravery and courage of women to stand up for their rights and injustices put against them.
Your post truly gives me an overall insight into what women are facing in Iran. All the examples you provide leaves great impression on me, especially all those oppressions they confront with because of their protest for equal rights. Marjane Satrapi brings such an unjust world outside of the Iran, which reminds all the people who live in a peaceful society appreciate the freedom and equality that they take for granted. The combination of text and video materials bring the world which beyond my imagination closer to me. Great post.
I loved your post. I think everything you said was very insightful, and gave a clear and accurate explanation as to why things written in the book were written. I like that you went into further detail about the lives of Islamic women, and why their rituals are set to be the way they are. I still think it is mind boggling that women are treated this way, and are forced to put themselves down for things that are simply out of their control. Examples you provided such as the veils, and the “beating of their breasts” made my jaw drop. Although I read about those things in the story, providing a video of today’s world, and actually understanding the meaning behind the veils, and other clothing that the women have to wear makes me sad. I thought this was very easy to read, and clarified things I did not understand as well before.
Very informative post. It really gives great insight to the political and social climate of Iran when Persepolis was written, and highlights some of the issues faced by Iranian women during this time period and still today. Specifically, I thought it was incredibly interesting that Iran has actually regressed from a gender equality standpoint since the Islamic Revolution. While many countries around the world are making conscious efforts geared towards gender equality, Iran continues to enforce sexist laws that are truly degrading to women, perpetuating a reality that is both saddening and sickening.
This post was extremely insightful. The things women in Iran have to face is terrible and disheartening. Satrapi releasing the book in a climate like that makes it even more powerful. In addition, the fact that its banned in Iran really shows that it is viewed as a threat to the power and system in the country. It is also very sad that the country has moved backwards in this category over the years.
Wow! Thank you for your post it was very insightful. It hurts my heart that I was unaware of the treatment of women in Iran until now and it makes me wonder how many other people are unaware and uneducated on the subject. I find it interesting how women are losing rights as opposed to gaining them it’s as they are moving backwards in time. Satrapi is very brave for releasing a book such as this one in such a time and for it to be widely banned shows us how the government knows what is it doing would be harshly criticized and maybe even challenged if others became aware.
I would say your presentation summarized the perception of Satrapi as an advocate, who was against Islam way of life. I like that you compared past and the present state of Iranian woman. Satrapi’s memoir was against everything Islam as a religion represented. Bringing the current status of rules for women in Iran, an Islamic country, would sound more harsh for us living in a Western country, but I think it will have a different moral feeling for some of the women living in Iran. Quiet recently, Saudi Arabia allowed their women to be able to drive vehicles. This has been a mile stone for the women living in such an Islamic society.
To be honest, I thought Iran was always an oppressive country towards its female populous. But after what I read and watched, Im incredibly sad that a country could have gone from a place of relative equality between men and women. To a country that does everything in their power to silence the voice of women. Your post was very informative and well thought out. The video was also a good choice to use an overview for the situation. Coming from someone who didn’t know just how bad it was, I thought it to be very informative.
It is sad to see how women are being treated in Iran. The fact that they have to get approval from their husbands in order to travel outside of the country is super crazy to me and sad to hear about. Satrapi releasing this makes her an icon for womens rights, it is also sad that we don’t really see this on the news and we have no idea how women are being treated in different countires.
I found your background on the history of systematic sexism to be extremely impactful and eye opening. I have never really delved into the Iranian government and how they have direct impact of many of the social and religious laws that are systematically suppressing the human rights. The video did a wonderful job at showing the timeline and progression of the Women’s Rights Movement and describes the hardships of going out in public for an Iranian woman. The end of the video brings even more power when we learn that the continuing movement led to Nasrin being imprisoned for 38 years and received lashings. I will now be more aware and understanding of Satrapi’s writing and context when finishing Persepolis.
I enjoyed your post a lot because you showed a great context of how women in Iran try to speak for their rights and conquer the oppression by the government and men by their bravery and courage. I felt unfortunate for them since they had to face that cruel situation and even their lives were threatened. The issue of gender inequality has been always a heated topic until now and I hope it can be solved peacefully as soon as possible.
This post was extremely informative. It is sad to see a country that took such a large step back in women’s rights. The fact that woman in Iran are treated in such a manner is disheartening. So for the women of Iran to take the stand they have against the government is brave and powerful. I think it forces you to reflect on how different life could be.
Thanks for your insightful post! You showed me an informative background about how gender equality is unacceptable to the Islamic Revolution. It reminds us to put more focus on what women suffered in the current society.
I think you did a great job explaining the depths of domestic violence against women in Iran, and this post taught me a lot of new information. The fact that this book is banned in Iran shows that extreme censorship still exists and is in full force today. This issue needs to be addressed, but the government in Iran has way too much power over women and will probably manipulate whoever and whatever it can for it to stay this way. It is terrifying that the women living here had their freedom of expression taken away from them so suddenly, but it is empowering to hear that they still stood up for themselves even though they were at risk of brutality. Unfortunately, issues like these are prevalent in far too many countries, one of which being Saudi Arabia. In fact, women in Saudi Arabia were not allowed to drive by themselves until a couple of years ago. Examples like this show that equality of opportunity and outcome are not possible for too many people, and it is terrible that societies cannot give everyone the same privileges and chances.
This post was incredibly informative, and I appreciate that it highlighted a topic that is not discussed as broadly as it should be in relation to this book. Gender equality is a human right that is still widely withheld to this day. It is terrible that a government is still capable of so much suppression and abuse to this day. I had no idea that women made up so much of the population of students and the workforce prior to the revolution, it is insane to think and even try to understand how such a backwards regime has maintained power for such a long time, especially in the current climate in our western society.
I think it is very insightful in mentioning that the book is banned in many countries. This shows just how little free speech people in Iran, especially women have. A complete violation of human rights from speech, religion, and just what the women are forced to wear. It sickens me to hear the virgin execution rule, so inhumane. It’s sad to see knowing that the country hasn’t always been like this. I think many people in today’s society have the moto “there will never be peace in the middle east”, but at times there was. The things these women go through on a daily basis are gut-wrenching. It shows how brave they are just to stand up.
Great post! Back in high school we did a project on banned books and once reading about the topics within this one– it’s not too surprising to see it included. The lack of free speech is worrisome and to lose it so abruptly certainly was not easy to adapt to. Watching the country move backwards is truly unfortunate. It is certainly unhealthy how much religion dictates some societies– it’s been outgrown with technology really. Hopefully the amount of countries with these brutal conditions are eventually reduced.
Thank you for your post, I found it very insightful. I cannot believe the injustice that the women of Iran have to face, it is appalling. It definitely seems that the country has taken a step in the wrong direction.
This post was instructive, and truly places into point of view the impediments Satrapi and her family were confronting, particularly since they kept on being dynamic in fights and exhibitions. It’s additionally critical to take note of that the abuses looked by women differ contingent upon different factors or parts of their personality. Their persecution isn’t one single story. This post truly shows the boldness and mental fortitude of women to support their privileges and treacheries put against them.
I was aware of the sharp contrast between modern Iran and Iran in the 60s, but your context presentation very effectively brought that out.
Because the book is primarily autobiographical, and Satrapi was only 9 before the revolution, we don’t get to see a lot of the major ways in which the revolution effected the women of Iran- only Satrapi’s recollection of how her school changed, becoming segregated and the girls being made to wear the veil.
This is a great article! Your article gives me a deeper understanding of the oppression of women in Iran. When they protest for equality, they are even harder pressed. It makes me sad. Iran has regressed on gender equality since the start of the revolution. Ms Marjane has courageously brought such inequality beyond Iran’s borders. This shows that women are brave enough to stand up for their own fairness and rights. Let us know more about equality in our life now.
Thank you for the read, I found it very informative. I am shocked at how woman are being treated in Iran and the daily injustice they deal with. Gender equality is a major topic in today’s society and is a human right that some countries haven’t even thought about discussing change. I think this provides us an opportunity to reflect on how different your life could be.
Wow, this was a great post! It is hard to believe that a country can take so many steps backwards. But I can’t help but think about this in context of the upcoming Supreme Court nominee, and the potential of women’s health care rights being challenged, and in some cases altered.
Thank you for giving such an impressive presentation. It’s heartbreaking to the situation of women in Iran. Gender equality is one of the most serious systemic injustices, especially in those relatively poor countries. I also talked about a tragedy happened on an Indian woman in my diary. A pregant woman was slashed by her husband because he wanted to check the gender of the unborn baby.