The first piece of literature we have read in our CAP global citizen ASTU class is Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood, by Marjane Satrapi. The book is a graphic narrative depicting Satrapi’s childhood experiences of the Iranian revolution. One of the issues that is raised throughout is that of religion, and more specifically the veil, as Satrapi’s child protagonist of Marji is forced to wear it after the Islamic Revolution. The veil is an issue that is often discussed in the Western world, particularly whether it is a symbol of oppression, but a new perspective is introduced in Persepolis of a child’s reaction to it.

Many in the West see the veil as a symbol of oppression, and a regressive ideology – it tells women they do not have the freedom to dress as they like, going against the values that many consider important. However, it is important to look at the veil in another way, if it is a woman’s choice. A key value in many societies is a woman’s right to choose – be it her career, her life or what she may wear. If a woman feels that wearing the veil is an important and integral part of her religion than she should have the right to do so – and how could this be seen as oppressive?

Though, many still see it – in any light – as a symbol of oppression, as written in an opinion piece for The Guardian titled “As a Muslim woman, I see the veil as a rejection of progressive values”. Here, the author argues that whatever the case the veil is an “affront to female dignity, autonomy and potential.”.

This sense of choice is what should be considered. In Persepolis, Marji (as all women in Iran) did not have the option not to wear the veil, and was instead forced to as a young girl. We see the reactions of children to this on the very first page – where they are playing around with them, rather than respecting them as the regime probably intended. This issue of choice is shown in her narration, “We didn’t really like to wear the veil, especially since we didn’t understand why we had to.”. Additionally, Satrapi mentions the lack of understanding, showing especially that this was not a choice. I had never considered how a child might feel being forced to wear such an overtly religious garment, assuming that there was always a sense that they understood.

We discussed in class the Marji’s personal relationship with religion & God versus the public relationship shown in the society through the rules they had to follow. While Marji was a religious child – she wished to be a prophet and had nightly conversations with God – she was still unclear as to why this ‘rule’ in her religion was necessary. The veil is symbolic of this juxtaposition of public and private – as the veil reveals ones supposed religious beliefs, but they may have different personal ones.

Despite having been forced to wear the veil as a child, Satrapi has since argued against propositions of bans on the garment in Western societies. In 2003 she wrote an article for the Guardian when France proposed banning the veil in schools. She argued against the idea that this was a progressive idea, and that banning the veil was just as regressive as forcing a woman to wear one, as it is her choose – “It is surely a basic human right that someone can choose what she wears without interference from the state.”.

Even though we consider a woman’s right to choose as an important value in the West, it can still be difficult to marry this right with that of a woman covering her face with something traditionally seen as oppressive. Recently in the UK people have been arrested for forcibly ripping veils from the heads of muslim women, effectively removing their right to choose what they wear – as Satrapi argued in her piece – and politicians continue to advocate banning the veil.

The veil will likely continue to be a polarizing issue in the West, but viewing it from the perspective of a child, as shown in Persepolis, has informed me further about my views on the subject.