Much of the sexism in the middle east starts in religion. Many women and men are now trying to get the traditionalists to reread the Quran and and put in the context of the modern world to try and redefine women. They are not having it though. The traditionalists (both men and women) are sticking to their beliefs about the state of women, that they are not equal to men and don't deserve the same rights.
Hopefully, many men and women can start to reread the Quran with a different set of eyes and influence younger generations of women to fight for their right to be equal.
Wednesday
1000 Splendid Suns
The state of women's rights in Afghanistan in the 1970's was a horrible one. The book 1000 Splendid Suns takes place in this time and lapses over about 20-30 years in the midst of the Taliban takeover. The two women who the book focuses on are forced into an arranged marriage to the same man for different reasons when their teenagers. Rasheed is a very traditional man, he thinks women who go outside without a burqa are dishonorable and disgusting. He soon forces both of his wives to wait for him to get home before they go out anywhere so he can accompany them.
When the economic state of Afghanistan plummets and they are forced to send their daughter into an orphanage Rasheed would rather spend his time with his son and refuses to accompany Lila to the orphanage to see her daughter.
The book is a great example of how men can take advantage of women's disadvantages, and control them almost to the point of them being slave like. They can't do anything without the permission of their husbands or fathers. If they disobey, the men can handle it as they please. If domestic violence is commited, the police won't do anything about it because they believe that they women must have done something to deserve it.
How can we let this happen? How can we sit comfortably in our homes, knowing this is going on across the ocean and continue to let it happen?
Lets do something.
www.womenforwomen.org Sponsor a sister.
When the economic state of Afghanistan plummets and they are forced to send their daughter into an orphanage Rasheed would rather spend his time with his son and refuses to accompany Lila to the orphanage to see her daughter.
The book is a great example of how men can take advantage of women's disadvantages, and control them almost to the point of them being slave like. They can't do anything without the permission of their husbands or fathers. If they disobey, the men can handle it as they please. If domestic violence is commited, the police won't do anything about it because they believe that they women must have done something to deserve it.
How can we let this happen? How can we sit comfortably in our homes, knowing this is going on across the ocean and continue to let it happen?
Lets do something.
www.womenforwomen.org Sponsor a sister.
NPR: Islamic Feminists
In an NPR interview, Isobel Coleman, author of Paradise Beneath Her Feet: How Women are Transforming the Middle East, was asked a question about how the Quran makes it difficult to fight for women's rights because some of the beliefs in it are incompatible with women's rights. To those that practice it, Islam is more then a religion it's a lifestyle, it's a commitment and many take it very seriously. And Ms. Coleman made a very compelling point related to the Christian bible, "that doesn't mean that you can't still look at the text and contextualize them. What many of the men and women today are trying to do within Islam is argue that times change, and you have to read them differently. You have to think about them in the present, not only in the past, and find new meanings and new ways to circle that square." although many middle eastern's can be labeled as 'traditionalists' there comes a time when you get with the times and change.
In today's society in America there are still many people who have yet to get with the times and re-contextualize the bible and open their mind even a tad. In that way, some civil rights issues in america can be related to whats happening to women in places like Afghanistan.
In today's society in America there are still many people who have yet to get with the times and re-contextualize the bible and open their mind even a tad. In that way, some civil rights issues in america can be related to whats happening to women in places like Afghanistan.
Monday
The State of Women's Rights in the Middle East
Earlier in March the Muslim Brotherhood publicly affirmed its longstanding views on women for the first time since 2011, when they gained power under president Mohamed Morsi.
The United Nations proposed a declaration to to condemn violence against women, The Brotherhood responded by saying that they believe wives should not have the right to right to file legal complaints against their husbands for rape, and that daughters should not get the same inheritance rights as sons, and that the husband must have "guardianship" over his wife, recommending the "husband's consent in matters like travel, work or use of contraception".
There are many Conservative Egyptian women who agree with this. But it is adding to the struggle against traditionalist culture for activists.
Women's rights still have a long way to go.
(http://www.thetakeaway.org/2013/mar/18/state-womens-rights-middle-east/)
The United Nations proposed a declaration to to condemn violence against women, The Brotherhood responded by saying that they believe wives should not have the right to right to file legal complaints against their husbands for rape, and that daughters should not get the same inheritance rights as sons, and that the husband must have "guardianship" over his wife, recommending the "husband's consent in matters like travel, work or use of contraception".
There are many Conservative Egyptian women who agree with this. But it is adding to the struggle against traditionalist culture for activists.
Women's rights still have a long way to go.
(http://www.thetakeaway.org/2013/mar/18/state-womens-rights-middle-east/)
Thursday
Project Topic: Women's Rights in the Middle East
Its a really tricky subject. As a women who lives in america and has more rights then what I know what to do with (not really) knowing there are women out there who are not allowed to work, who are not allowed to leave their house without a man, or who aren't even allowed to show their skin, drives me crazy. But, you also have to keep in mind that many of those women have lived this way for most of their lives and they're used to it. And they don't want things to change. While other generations want to fight back and want to change everything.
I'm excited to expand on both sides. Go from extreme to extreme.
FEMEN to those grandparents who won't talk to their grandchildren because they dont approve of their choices.
I'm excited.
I'm excited to expand on both sides. Go from extreme to extreme.
FEMEN to those grandparents who won't talk to their grandchildren because they dont approve of their choices.
I'm excited.
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