Political value of surface and identity in a repressive society

Not looking for help on the topic itself, but what the question means.

I need to connect two texts, one that talks about "Surface and Substance" (Virginia Postrell), and how style can exist for its own sake and does not have to be indicative of the substance beneath it and how neither substance nor style are of primary importance but can both co-exist, and another text about the revolution that brought back the rigid rules regarding women in Iran - ie. law enforced wearing of veils, no talking to the opposite sex in public etc. (Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in Books" by Azar Nafisi)

The topic that I need to connect them with is " What is the political value of surface and identity in a repressive society?".

I am unable to understand what they mean by politics as neither of the texts has much at all to do with politics (not directly at least - there are no political quotes to use)

Greetings!

My interpretation would be that "politics" or "political value" would mean, in this instance, the furtherance of the political agenda of the party in power in the repressive society. By keeping the members of society (in the case of Iran, the female members) in conformance with a narrowly defined identity, the society appears, on its surface, to be in accord: a well-ordered, stable, uniform society, ruled by an apparently powerful government. By encouraging its members to buy into this identity (and punishing them if they do not), the government retains its power and limits insurrection.

I hope this is helpful to you!

Thanks,

Sarah, EssayForum.com