Political Activism in Persepolis

The family portrayed in Persepolis is very involved political demonstrations in Iran. Although they face issues we do not have to confront in the U.S., their level of commitment to their country despite the threat of violence is astounding. As I progress through Persepolis, I notice how the political involvement of the daughter has grown over time. When the conflicts in Iran initially arose, she was forced to stay at home while her parents attended the demonstrations, but since the spirit of revolution was in the air she was allowed greater privileges. On p.76, after learning of a meeting against fundamentalism, the little girls mother tells the girls father, "She should start learning to defend her rights as a woman right now!" This is a pretty bold statement. Her previously Conservative mother had now granted her daughter some degree of independence as well as a small entry point into the world of adulthood. As her opportunity arises to become involved in Iranian politics she takes full advantage. During the demonstration, she created fliers reading, "guns may shoot and knives may carve, but we won't wear your silly scarves!" As if this weren't enough, once she found that Iran was now in a state of war, she decided that she wanted to defend her country against the Arabs who kept attacking. When the Iraqi planes bombed Tehran, she even shouted, "those assholes". Throughout the story, this girl has really evolved as a political activist, and as a person as a whole. It has been fun to trace her development throughout the story.