The Role Of Women In Persepolis And Wadjda

Persepolis by Marjane Satrap and Vincent Paronnaud, (2007) and Wadjda by Haifaa al-Mansour (2013) scrutinize the roles of women in the Islāmic Society. Both films examine the apparent ongoing female repression under the Patriarchal society. The aforementioned films derive from diverse ethnic influences; however, they both struggle upon the same conflict. In the Arab and Iranian societies, females endure under the classification of an oppressed gender, thus females’ struggle to acquire equal women’s rights and maintain unbiased gender roles. Persepolis being a French-Iranian-American animated film and Wadjda a Saudi Arabian–German film, are set in similar time-frames, correspondingly both being directed in the contemporary past. Therefore,

Although in Wadjda physical abuse of females isn’t portrayed, mental disrespect and rudeness regarding the females and their treatment is high. Similarly, the film inspects two strong female characters: Wadjda and her mother. In the film, Wadjda’s mother has a job, but she has no control over her earned money. Although financially liberated and independent, she can’t drive a car herself and is constantly dependent on a male driver. In Saudi, women are not allowed to exit their homes without the male supervision and generally are looked down. In the traditional societies, sons are preferred over daughter. Hence, the film conflict concerning the gender inequality proves the patriarchal domination. Father of Wadjda comes home on his will and constantly makes his wife feel inferior. Thus, Wadjda’s father decides to leave her mother due to her being unable to bear a son Despite, the mentally traumatic event Wadjda and her mother are able to form a strong female bond and move on with their lives. Wadjda herself is not a regular Saudi girl. Underneath her black robe, she wears converse sneakers and isn’t the biggest fan of tying her headscarf. She is also a young entrepreneur, has the opposite sex member as her best friend and is determined to get a bicycle despite, social norms. The bicycle presents a symbolism for the freedom acquired by Wadjda, which she strives to get for the longest period of time. She

The main female characters in both films: Persepolis and Wadjda demonstrate unusual revolutionary personalities. Wadjda and Marjane stand out from their peers in various ways; they are different due to the fashion in which they engage in, words they choose to publicly say, and aspirations they have despite, the social regulations. By the end of the films, both characters achieve a form of mental liberation and empower the audience. In the Islāmic and patriarchal domineering societies, it is important to stop looking down at western notions concerning equal rights movement. If societies accepted and viewed such concepts as at least partially righteous women wouldn’t have a hard time overcoming common inner struggles. No woman should be oppressed because of the location and the society they are born within. There should be no discrimination regarding: sex, color and social classes. However, theoretically some non-western societies are far from even comprehending it. Films such as: Persepolis and Wadjda demonstrate hope for the future and hope for a women’s rights reformation, where women are able to achieve liberation without the set