Jazmin Gardner Middle Eastern Studies Jgg285@nyu.edu November 6, 2010 Behind the Veil If there is one thing I have learned as a woman, it is that people are quick to judge. If a woman wears glasses, she is more likely to be smart. If a woman wears tight clothes, she is more likely to be easy. And if a woman wears a veil, she is without a doubt, part of the most oppressed and confined group of women in the world. This is the perception of Muslim women that I have been exposed to for most of my life.
(Alvarez 1997) is a very good book, in fact I read it in one day. Which was great, but then at the end it made you want more. In the beginning of the book, it seems all of Yolanda’s sisters feel betrayed and hurt that Yolanda would write a book about their lives. Even though it is labeled a fictional book, the book seems to be based off their lives. The first chapter was told by FiFi, the youngest sister.
As an anthropologist who had lived for so long with women in communities where everyone was Muslim, she was forced to reflect on what she could do with the perspective her ethnographic work had given her. The first principle of ethnography, which contains participating in daily life, is to listen and watch, understand something about women’s lives, where women’s rights needed defending. This book is to figure out how to think about the question of Muslim women and their rights. After the attacks of September 11, 2001, the images of demoralized Muslim women became connected to a charge to saving them from their cultures. The stereotyping of the Terror made Muslim women a symbol of an alien culture.
We have certain morals that we tend to stick by, however when conflict arrises what we stand can be alternated as great deals of conflict can change a personals way of viewing the world. However conflict can also make us stick by our morals to a greater extent as we may use these particular morals to conquer conflict. in the world today, we often see society challenging each other for what we choose to be in life , particularly people being challenged for being homo-sexual and these times of conflict made them relise who they truly are and fight back for justice as gay marriage is now legal in some parts of Australia. Like in Bruce Beresfords feature film Paradise Road highlights the potential of conflict to catalyse the revaluation of an individuals moral compass, the way in which one lives and the values that are important to their existence to be realised. Therefore conflict can in fact enhance the strengths of our morals and beliefs.
Tannen’s writing is lengthy, personal, analytical and well sourced. Even though the differences between these two pieces can easily be highlighted there are some similarities. Both Tannen and Quindlen believe there are obvious differences and similarities between men and women. However, when specifically observing the relationship between men and women Tannen believes the main differences lie in communication, reactions, the way life is approached and the dynamics of childhood.
Muslims tend to treat women so unfairly due to these scriptures written in the holy book. The Muslim beliefs are strong and whatever is written in the Qur’an, is the truth to them and what they act upon. Most of what is written in the Qur’an can cause many Muslims to look at women as if they are creations like the animals, plants, etc. that are brought to the world by Allah. They also believe that women lack many of the traits that men possess, along with gratitude and intelligence.
Rhetorical Artifact Speech Lori Letendre Bay Path University Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “Freedom makes a huge requirement of every human being. With freedom comes responsibility. For the person who is unwilling to grow up, the person who does not want to carry his own weight, this is a frightening prospect.” Besides being known for her inspiring quotes she is also known for an incredible speech called “The Struggle of Human Rights.” I chose to examine this speech because she is a well-known public figure that I have learned about in my previous education. I gained knowledge of her background as a human rights advocate for people who do not have a voice of their own. This speech is extremely important because it marked the beginning of a new future for freedom of the people.
| | Any society always assumes that it’s position on matters is the most sensible, most rational, and, ultimately, best. In fact, societies throughout history have had wildly differing expectations of life, depending on their religious, political and cultural environment. For example, a thousand years ago, women were considered inferior to men, and this was a viewpoint which the vast majority of women shared, as they had been brought up to believe in it. The problem occurs when one society, with its own idiosyncratic views, attempts to formulate a legal document that bill bind future generations. For example, the American Bill of Rights was considered revolutionary and foresighted in its time, but now rights such as the right to bear arms are outdated and an obstacle.
This implies that all people can be placed into either category, when it isn’t in fact this simple. Sex is an attributed status, whereas gender must be learned. The learned behaviours of what it is to be a ‘woman’ in society is one engulfed in many inequalities. In this analysis of gender issues, I would like to particularly focus on women and gender equality. The question to be looked at is ‘What does it mean to be a woman?’Although there has been some progress in the past 30 years, particularly in women’s education and employment equality, there are still many inequalities and also more inconspicuous issues affecting the women of today including domestic violence and rape and sexual abuse and I would like to look further into this.
Still today, whatever the reasons may be, be it the upbringing or beliefs and religion, women are continuously treated differently in places like the Middle East as to here. Other issues like female circumcision may be something that is religious, but at the same time, it is dangerous and harmful. It causes emotional and physical pain, shock and even death to women. It is not enough if one side of the world has appealed to its female freedom and rights, when the other side is struggling. A situation like that is not fair.