The subjugation of women, and the symbols of their oppression in persepolis

The novel is set in late 1900's Iran, so the oppression of women is a theme which inevitably arises in the novel. Jewelry is a symbol which can be seen in numerous locations throughout the novel, particularly towards the end of the first installment. Jewelry relates to the larger theme of the oppression of women. In school, the teachers take away the jewelry that Marjane and her colleagues have. Something which women often associate with their gender identity is being taken away. When Marjane discovers the ruins of the Baba-Levy's house, the
dismembered hand has the turquoise bracelet still on. This is a clear statement that the only way for women to escape their oppression in Iran was to die. A trope which is discussed heavily in the novel is the veil that islamic women are forced to wear. She represents the veil in two distinctly different ways. One such way is the commonly held belief that the veil oppresses women and constrains their freewill; while this is true to a certain extent, Satrapi focuses more on the idea that the veil still allowed the women to retain their own identities. Even through their oppression, women found a way to contest the regime. This can be seen through Marjane's adoration of wearing western clothes(133). It is a commonly held belief in western culture that women in the middle east are helpless and placed under restrictions which remove their identity. Satrapi's work challenges this perspective and contends that the veil failed in regards to subjugating women.
For More, see Brandon's post.