The Muslim Idea of Feminism (Part 3)

So when the woman is placed in such a disadvantageous position, she can strike back but with severe legal consequences. The only way to change things is through the law itself, which the lower class-while numerous-do not have the political connections to do so. Activists of the higher class have shown to be quite effective at publishing articles and works capable of showing the female life. While some are more feminist than others, like Harem Years like Huda Shaarawi or Dreams of Trespass by Fatima Mernissi, the fact that woman can speak out without censorship preventing these books from being seen is very important; releasing to the Global community exposes that community to their own faults and misgivings.

The Muslim idea of Feminism (Part 2)

Which leads to an important point; how if feminism defined in these countries? Feminism is generally defined as gender equality through the rise of female roles and expansion of their place in society. Added alongside the nature of the burqa and what exactly is condoned in the home, what has been accomplished? Are the men still in a higher, more privileged area in society?

Of course they are. Women must close the gap between the two as much as possible through empowerment and communal connections, but when does conventional wisdom of the modern woman interfere with genuine observance of faith? Are they so intertwined that the Islamic woman is forced to be less "exposing" to please her man, or to save him from fault and possible wrongdoing?

The laws are very confusing and broken on this matter, and Egypt seems to be the most progressive with strict family laws which can benefit women.

The Muslim idea of Feminism (Part 1)

Part of me has been asking this question since I came into the class. If the women are empowered, what keeps them from speaking out more publicly? While I have searched for such demonstrations around, I have not seen many modern ones except in more culturally-acceptable areas like Egypt or sparse locations in the Middle East. Furthermore, the demonstrations seem to stay outside of public current events unless a major event or controversial point really comes into light.

As such, what dictates what Muslims want as Feminism? Do they want equal rights, or more to coincide with their religious beliefs while staying true to the strength of their gender? What keeps coming back to me are those in the higher-class wish to attain some form of higher standing instead. Are they attempting to trickle down?

Kandahar

That movie struck me as very worrisome and a world of survival, but not just for the physical dangers but the social as well. The husband she was traveling with as his deceived wife worried more about his cultural reputation that her own problems, much less that she had to get to Kandahar...Yet, he wanted to return home in order to survive for himself and his family, which is something I didn't quite expect; a man worried for his wives as well as his children in this culture? Perhaps he meant the children more, but the sentiment is there.


What struck me the most was that the movie ended without a real wonder if she got there or not. If she was able to help her sister in this harsh, disadvantageous environment. One would like to think she did, but...

Persepolis

This movie was really good, I felt. You get the sense that either Marjane was either involved with all these communist/radical ideas from a very young age, or during her time in Europe, was finally able to express herself as her mother had done. The best male character in the movie was the father, who actually maintained and portrayed a mutual relationship at home, in a world where such ideas were either frowned upon, or not followed by the women who were afraid.

God is a very strange character in our class, but more so in Persepolis. He stands to reason with his prophet, but she will not listen. This is a much more caring and understanding God than I expected from an Islamic mindset, especially towards a young woman. Also, Tehran is much more culturally and socially more sophisticated than I thought. That was certainly interesting.

Battle for Algiers

Man, things have such a different perspective when you have a Sinus Infection. I reiterate that last semester really screwed up my health a bit.

So, Battle for Algiers. Well, I wasn't really shocked at the level of involvement that the women had in the revolution; the native people were an oppressed majority against an Elite french majority, and they had to use every resource they had at their disposal to prove to the UN and the rest of the world-even to France- their wish to be independent. This, of course, required the use of female agents carrying bombs and supplies to other members on the front lies on to specific locations to strike fear. While the movie did not show it, research on my own behalf dictates that women also carried pistols and carried out assassin-style executions like the one seen against the cop within the movie.

What really struck me was the start of the movie and the general himself, which led to some questions. Torture was the clear method to gain the information they desired, meaning they were willing to do anything in order to protect the lives of French citizens. Which begs the question, why wasn't their implication of torture or other human rights violations used on women? They were involved with the war as much as the men, and I can't really imagine that they would just allow these potential sources of information to simply skirt away. The general was not stupid, and while I admit that he had an honorable air to him, I don't think he was beneath torturing a woman in order to protect French citizens from the Algerian rebels. After all, once he had caught the insurgents, he was ready to negotiate the terms of Algerian independence.

Week 5 & 6: Debates and Different Views.

I really resented the remark that I could not argue feminism because I was a man, but I do understand why it was said at the very least. Amin was a man, and he argued for women's rights far better than I could through his own means. I will try and endeavor because I believe in equal rights for all genders through work, social and cultural roles and understanding.

That being said, the women presented in these new books fought in different ways, but the Princess, while trying her best, seemed physically vain and looking for an outlet to focus herself on in the outside. The woman was very feminately-oriented, mostl focused within her clothing and personal appearance. Although it really cannot be held against her, fighting for women's rights could have been a way for her to express herself outside of the political world that was royality, Saddrathi not having that restriction.