This 25-minute video was uploaded today on the Al Jazeera English site. It is a conversation with Amal al-Malki, a Qatari writer, and it addresses various women's issues in the wake of the Arab Spring. al-Malki says that, despite the strong participation of women in the revolts, it has in fact highlighted their "second-class citizenship" in the Arab world.
When asked if the reemergence of Political Islam in various Arab nations could hinder women's rights even more, al-Malki points out that it has nothing to do with Islam, and that unfortunately it is the "patriarchal interpretations of Islam" that were rendered into laws. She also addresses the stereotyping of Arab women, and women in general, and talks about the superiority complex that western women often have towards Arab women.
It is no secret that women from other parts of the world view their Arab counterparts as repressed and even backward. I think that it is essential to refrain from judgement when learning about other cultures, instead of judging something that we do not/have not attempted to fully understand.
Interesting post and story... I agree with not judging those that we do not understand, even though it may be hard at times to refrain from doing so.
ReplyDeleteIn terms of Arab women's rights, the interpretation of Islam by most Arab countries conforms to the Western patriarchal paradigm, i.e. that men are the dominant gender. I think it is interesting that some fundamental Muslims believe that women's rights is a western ideology and the repression of women is a way to reject the westernization of the world. But historically it was the west that repressed women and it has only been the last 75 years that women have gained more rights in the West. This interpretation seems counter intuitive to me. On the other hand, from what I understand, many Eastern cultures practiced more gender equality. As the video states, it isn't Islam that is repressing women-- rather the interpretation. I wonder if the west was aware of this, would there be less stigmatization and stereotypes toward the Islam?
I think it's not only a matter of refraining from judgement, but also one of broadening the discourse. Many Westerners, especially Western feminists, view Muslim women as voiceless and dis-empowered. Yet, many of the women I met in Iran did not see themselves as voiceless or dis-empowered. A key struggle among feminists is allowing for different, and conflicting, women's voices to emerge.
ReplyDeleteThere is a certain amount of western condescension toward Islamic women who choose to remain veiled or in the traditional roles as prescribed by her religion and yet this veiled woman may see herself as empowered. Who am I as a Western woman to tell her any differently? And, what might I learn by listening to her voice, rather than simply demanding that she hear mine?
Two very good points.
ReplyDeleteSadly this colonial attitude where the first world aims to "civilize" the rest of the world still hasn't completely disappeared. In reality, both worlds - despite their striking differences, or rather because of it - could stand to learn a lot from each other.