If you consider yourself a feminist, to yourself a favour and read this article that amply illustrates the total moral failure of the modern Western feminist movement. It's time we took feminism back from shame and hypocrisy -- I can't believe it was ever meant to be what it has become. We need a new Susan B. Anthony and wherever she may be, she certainly won't be found in the company of the Gloria Steinem set.
As you look at this inventory of brutality, the question bears repeating: Where are the demonstrations, the articles, the petitions, the resolutions, the vindications of the rights of Islamic women by American feminists? The weird fact is that, even after the excesses of the Taliban did more to forge an American consensus about women’s rights than 30 years of speeches by Gloria Steinem, feminists refused to touch this subject. They have averted their eyes from the harsh, blatant oppression of millions of women, even while they have continued to stare into the Western patriarchal abyss, indignant over female executives who cannot join an exclusive golf club and college women who do not have their own lacrosse teams.
Link via Little Green Footballs
Posted by Ith at January 16, 2003 05:37 PMIn some of the instances that the author related, she failed to include any of the follow ups. In the case of the young woman who was raped by the council, they were actually charged and convicted. If I remember correctly, it was one of the American news shows that got involved. And the other woman, the one who was to be stoned, I thought her case was in appeal now? The author is correct that things need to be done, but in all fairness, present both sides and write about what has and is being done. The author condemns western women for failing to act, yet, if she'd done her homework, she would have read about women like Oprah Winfrey, who does, in fact, care about Amina Lawal's plight and rallied her viewers asking for support. Oprah even has the courtesy to give an update on Amina Lawal.
Sometimes (I know I've said this before), women are their own worst enemies. From the aforementioned article - "Women in Afghanistan might have to wear burqas, but don’t women in the West parade around in bikinis? “It’s equally disrespectful and abusive to have women prancing around a stage in bathing suits for cash or walking the streets shrouded in burqas in order to survive,” columnist Jill Nelson wrote on the MSNBC website about the murderously fanatical riots that attended the Miss World pageant in Nigeria."
Why is it that the point is being missed here? These women were *free* to pursue this "dream" or whatever they or you want to call it, that's where the freedom lies. Yet, so many women jump up and scream that it's degrading. I'm not saying that I agree with beauty pageants, or women who pose for Playboy, but I am glad that they have the right to choose.
On the other hand, Oprah refused the invitation of the President to go to Afghanistan. Now, I heard different versions of the story, but I was left with the feeling that she was more interested in politics than anything else. (I think Oprah is a typical Ivory Tower liberal, so I may be a little jaded where she's concerned [g]) Yes, now Oprah is championing a cause, but where was she before? And isn't it the very least she should do? And where all the purported "womens groups" now? I was talking about the plight of women in these countries years ago but never heard a peep from the likes of NOW -- NOW who thinks sexual harassment is wrong unless their President does it. I'm a nobody, and average woman who isn't considered a "real woman" by the likes of Gloria Steinem and her ilk because I don't follow the whacko agenda they push. They don't seem to care that Saddam has men on his payroll whose job it is to rape women in his gulags. Or about any abuse of women in any other country. When the most important issue to them is letting women join Augusta, they're seriously in need of a clue!
Okay, deep breath! Thanks, Mickey for bringing up these points. I know they are things I've written about before, but it's a subject I'm very passionate about. I appreciate the opportunity to expand on the post.
Posted by: Ith on January 18, 2003 12:59 PMJust managed to delete my whole response - trying again -
If you were conduct a search on the 'net on Oprah and women and violence, I think you'd find that you may not be giving Oprah a fair shake. I can't answer for her, but it was my understanding that she refused the invitation because it was seen as more of a media stunt than a situation where she would truly be able to change anything. I don't watch Oprah or read her magazine, but I have followed some of her "causes" via her web page and I like the fact that she doesn't need a parade every time she backs a cause. Her celebrity may cause the ivory tower effect, I don't know. Is she a victim of her own success? Would she become more important than the issue if she were to be in the forefront? Again, I don't know. But, I do know that it isn't fair to say where was she, because she has always been a supporter of not only women's rights, but, human rights. I personally don't have any use for Gloria Steinem or NOW or even the term feminist. I know I'm being idealistic and I'm sure extremely naive, but I prefer to strive for the betterment of all without a segregation of gender and race. I was raised by my father to be a person, my mother was not as "liberal" and that's where I saw most of the prejudice that can exist between the races. In all fairness, not entirely her fault, she was raised that way and had her own view of standards.
This of course brings me around to my pet peeve, will women be told to register at 18?? I hope so, you can't have it both ways.
Posted by: Annmarie on January 18, 2003 03:09 PMI have no problem with women registering, as I've said before.
Posted by: Ith on January 18, 2003 03:58 PMOh, and I've gotten into the habit of typing out my comments and blog posts in email so I don't lose em :) I learned my lesson! Plus, there's the spell check!
Okay, I need to actually go do stuff and get away from the puter monitor!
LOL! to the above!And thanks for the tip.
No, I know you don't have a problem with the registration issue, it was an open remark, sorry for any confusion.Thanks for the discussion.
Posted by: Annmarie on January 18, 2003 07:06 PM