When you say 'revolution' when you have only men outside, you know that something is going wrong. I'm not like a hardcore feminist, but I think that one of the things that makes the society advanced is equality between men and women. If half of the society is oppressed by the other half, it's not fine.

The quote, "When you say 'revolution' when you have only men outside, you know that something is going wrong. I'm not like a hardcore feminist, but I think that one of the things that makes the society advanced is equality between men and women. If half of the society is oppressed by the other half, it's not fine," comes from Marjane Satrapi, an Iranian-born graphic novelist, illustrator, and filmmaker. Satrapi is best known for her autobiographical graphic novel Persepolis, which explores themes of identity, gender, and political upheaval in the context of Iranian culture and politics. In this quote, she discusses the importance of gender equality and critiques the limitations of social movements that exclude women from the conversation.

Satrapi’s comment about "revolution" and the absence of women in such movements is a sharp critique of any social or political revolution that does not address gender equality. She implies that a revolution that ignores women is inherently flawed, as it fails to recognize the full potential of society. This observation challenges the idea that change is meaningful or complete if it perpetuates the oppression of half of the population, namely women. The absence of women in revolutionary movements signals, in Satrapi’s view, that something critical is missing—namely, true equality.

While Satrapi acknowledges that she’s not a "hardcore feminist," she makes it clear that she believes in the fundamental idea that equality between men and women is a cornerstone of an advanced society. For her, the measure of a progressive society is not only its ability to innovate or change politically, but also its ability to recognize and address gender inequality. Her statement reflects the idea that social advancement cannot be fully realized when half of the population is oppressed.

Ultimately, Satrapi’s quote highlights the importance of gender equality as essential to a just and progressive society. It serves as a critique of both political and social structures that continue to marginalize women, asserting that true freedom and progress cannot exist unless everyone, regardless of gender, is given equal opportunities and rights. Through her words, Satrapi calls for a reevaluation of what it means to have a revolution that includes all voices, emphasizing that the oppression of women undermines the very ideals of justice and equality.