Escaping

[bronwynrh]

From the sociology desk: Madinah Forum on Women Calls for Respecting Tradition

No doubt this is absolutely a powder keg issue in the middle east. Of course there will be those who will cry coercion . . . and they may be right. We just don't have any evidence one way or the other. I take everthing coming from the Kingdom with a grain of salt, but that is based on my experiences there and a certain level of cynicism those experiences produced. Of course, my experience is not the end-all, and so my own cynicism may be unfounded.

I do know that many women in the Muslim world choose to wear hijab, independently of the wishes of their male relatives. It's hard for many of us to comprehend, and some of us may rail against it, but we should ask ourselves if it's really any of our business. At the very least, is it really our job to try to change things?

Just some points to ponder. I know what my inclinations are, but my common sense often contradicts those inclinations. Perhaps it's ok for our gut reactions to contradict our behavior, so we're driven by our logic and sense more than by our emotions.

I'm babbling because I have too much on my mind, and here I go finding something else to think about. It's easier for me to think about politics and Big Global Issues right now than to think about my own personal reality. We'll call it Escapism for the Intellectual.

I'm moving this week and still can't sleep. Too much worry, stress and fear I suppose. I'm trying to focus on breathing and making my shoulders and neck relax. Trying to focus on anything at all for more than 10 minutes at a stretch. Hell, sometimes it's too much to stay focused for 2 minutes, much less 10.

. . . . .

Comments

[marstokyo.livejournal.com]

It's probably not hard to go with the *traditions*, however oppressive, when the alternative is a history of beatings, stonings, mutilations, and murder. Yeah, I think I'd wear the stinking hot burka too.

[bramey.livejournal.com]

I pretty much agree. After seeing how maniacal the KSA drivers are, I never wanted to drive off-compound. Whenever we went to the cities, dad of course drove and mom and I cringed and made those *sssss* breath noises to warn him (aka annoy him) of the freak drivers. Why anyone would want to drive over there if they didn't have to, I'll never know :)

I did take offense to the black abayas. . . Honestly, I'd rather wear a white or pastel-colored cloak considering the heat factor. No problem wearing the cloak, though. At least, not now that I've grown up. When I was a kid I was too defiant. As a consequence, I was on the receiving end of catcalls, ass-pinches and various other gross displays of male ickness. Shoulda just worn the stupid abaya.

Black polyester in 125 degree heat (with 70 % humidity) is just wrong, though.

[bramey.livejournal.com]

All that to say this: It doesn't make sense to change the rules regarding women without first working to change the climate that makes those protections so necessary.

And we all know how difficult it is to get a man to change :-/

(forgive me my generalizations, boys)

[kendokamel.livejournal.com]

I think I agree with you on those points. I have no idea what I would do in that situation, myself. Part of me would want to be defiant, but the other part of me would want to be able to fly under the radar as much as possible.

Oh... hey, after all that on Saturday, I forgot to get your mobile number. (;

[bramey.livejournal.com]

and a couple of blazers :)

[curlicue.livejournal.com]

There are times when I get all caught up in "what's the world coming to" and it's interesting to ponder "is it any of our business".

I'm just as torn as you.

Sleep well, darlin'.

[repoman.livejournal.com]

Its easy to piont fingers and yell "barbaric" or "oppresive" but really, its not our culture to judge. It's not to say unequality is right, but sometimes you have to learn why, not just be told so...

Maybe its not so much getting the rights that count, but standing up for them...