Reading the Qur'an in Cambridge

Persepolis was a poignant narrative that truly showed us how the Iranian Revolution affected a child. By using a comic strip medium, Satrapi presented the reader with many channels to experience the emotions that went with the revolution. In many ways Satrapi’s views of gender are placed upon her by the revolution. As children, we don’t necessarily think about gender and we don’t necessarily think that boys and girls are different. Sadly, over time society ingrains stereotypes in our head about what gender represents and how we should act in order to fit into a certain mold. Satrapi starts off the story saying that she wants to be a Prophet. This example reveals how her views of potential are not shaped by gender norms. This changes as the revolution places certain ideas of gender and the possibilities of each gender on her.

Another interesting component of gender, identity, and religion is the way that Satrapi depicts the hijab. She seems to present only one view: the hijab is repressive and old-fashioned. In her images, all the women wearing the veil tend to look the same, as if putting a veil on covers up your identity and individuality.

“I really didn’t know what to think about the veil. Deep down I was very religious, but as a family we were very modern and avant-garde,” Satrapi said. This shows that she associated the veil with being conservative and religious and the lack of veil with being modern. But is our identity really determined by the extra 1/8 inch of hair showing from under our veil? From the stories we have heard in class, I know that such a binary view is not correct and is regressive to discussion. For some women, the veil can be incredibly liberating. For others, it can be a political object. This is a great reminder of the cultural-studies approach applied to ideas of gender and identity – it all depends on whom we are talking to and where we are.

Her identity as defined by the veil

In response to Persepolis, I choose to do a photograph showing a very binary view of identity. I took two pictures, one without a veil and one with a veil and then I combined the images into one, so that half of my face was veiled and the other wasn’t. I was inspired by an image in the book where Satrapi contemplates her identity and her views on the veil. I wanted this photo to make viewers question how they see someone who wears a veil. Whether or not my head is covered, I am still the same person. I still have the same dreams and relationships. But how does society view one side of me versus the other side? How does societal judgment shape how I feel about my identity? I then made the image black and white to equalize the two sides. I tried to maintain the same expression as well and slightly smile. I hope this gives the image a sense of mystery and contemplation. The veil and its questions of identity are complex, and I wanted to convey this complexity in the photo.

Two sides of identity?

This is a reminder that everything depends on context, which is why we cannot make base assumptions from the surface level. We talk about whether the hijab is repressive to women or liberating, but I don’t think there is one answer. In situations like the Iranian Revolution in Persepolis, I see why Satrapi would view the veil as repressive because it was forced upon her rather than her own choice. That is why I appreciate Satrapi’s honest depiction of her views as a child and don’t necessarily think she presents the veil as harmful. I simply am interested in considering the other possibilities during the revolution and wonder how women who supported wearing the veil felt. Satrapi depicts these women as overly conservative and fundamentalist and only shows them as angry or rude. I just worry

I hope that this photograph makes you think critically about the complex issues of the hijab and how identity is related to it. With your hand, cover up one side and then the other side. Then look at it as a whole. As you look at it, ask yourself the following questions:

• When you see someone, what assumptions do you make about him or her based on appearance?
• What does wearing the hijab signify for women who choose to be veiled? What might it represent to women who are forced against their will to be veiled?
• What are the different cultural contexts that play a role in the veil? How does it differ from region to region?
• If we lived in a society where men were not driven so wild by women’s hair and sexuality, would there be any need for the veil? Is the veil based on this or are there other reasons for wearing it?