å Tuesday, November 28th, 2017

Lila Abu-Lughod explains the way in which women are characterized accordingly to the circumstances and believes of a culture. She describes the issues faced by women having to cover themselves and were threatened by the Taliban if they were to break the norm. Women were oppressed by the current political issues in their country. She uses the veiling of women to show the limitation they had in the community. There were many expectations oppressing the behavior and appearance women should had in order to be accepted and respected. They were manipulated by the Taliban to an extend where their culture was pursued to implement the values and regimes he established. One important points she brings up in her essay is that the way in which the role of a women is shaped by its surroundings should not be ignored. The line between the oppression and the culture is so blurred that people began to forget about the distinction and what makes them each different form each other. She encourage people to acknowledge the unjust treatment women are having and that there should be a human right that assures them a complete freedom. Even though people might have different ways to measure what would be an ideal way of living it is important to do something about it. The powerful movement of the war on terror is overtaking the classes and even gender of a nation. It is interesting how this explanatory power can force people into a certain behavior that all of the sudden it becomes normal. People need some guidance on how to act in reward with others, however when women or men are not given the freedom they deserve then it is irrelevant and a dangerous situation. Overall, the oppression faced by women cannot be hide and there should be something done in order for there to be justice.

In her article, “Do Muslim Women Really Need Saving”, Lila Abu Lughod writes that Americans blame Muslim countries for terrorist attacks and by going into war, they will liberate Muslim women. She emphasizes that the American society does not regard what these Muslim women truly believe is liberating. Americans believe that a women showing cleavage is liberating but to these women it’s not about dress code, but fixing the inequality they face in the country. Most of the women are illiterate and by any means wants to access the same resources as the elite. On the contrary, only elite and middle class Muslim women that are educated have the option to wear scarfs and have access to better jobs excluding political jobs. In addition, Elite women are given privileges yet many are outraged with the system and want all women to have an education. Thus, with more women that are educated, they can bring great change to the society and someday become politicians themselves. Most Muslim women are afraid to stand up and protest due to their lack of income, degree and security only to becomes homemakers and fear if left without a husband they too will wear the scarf homeless women wear. The author wants to express that war should not be about ethnocentrism but more so leaning to cultural relativism. We should not impose our culture on another group because what may seem normal to us maybe deviant in another culture. We should use our sociological imagination and accept other culture and way of living. Another key point the authors wants to address is that going to war is not going to change the situation these women endure. The reason for these women struggles and depression is because of the Taliban. For example, it is believe the ultimate sign of oppression of Afghan women under the Taliban and the terrorist were force to wear the burqa. Liberals women sometimes confess their surprise that liberated from the Taliban they did not throw off their burqas. The only solution to end their suffering is to replace their government with new a government that gives every citizen equal rights and justice and building an egalitarian society. The author wants us to make the decision as to whether the American should go to war to liberate these women from wearing the burqa or removing corrupted politicians and giving everyone totally freedom over their body, mind and social equality; while giving every citizen the same means and opportunity as the wealthy.

In the reading, “Do Muslim Women Really Need Saving? Anthropological Reflections on Cultural Relativism and Its Others” written by Lila Abu-Lughod, she argues the views of other American journalist and former first lady, Laura Bush. To be completely honest, I found this reading to be super hypocritical of Lila Abu-Lughod. She argues why they would ask her to be interviewed after the September 11th terror attack in New York City, and why they would ask about religion and culture versus looking at the history of the Taliban. I think that after the attack everyone wanted to understand why the terrorist Taliban group would attack Americans, and in order to understand you would need to look at their culture and religion which is incorporated into their history. And I mean why not interview a well educated women who is Muslim and an Anthropologist, whose interest is in within the history, religion, and culture of Muslim women. Lila goes on to say that even after the Taliban eased the rule of women wearing veils, they continued to wear them and critizied former first lady for saying that the Muslim women needed saving. The Muslim women wear the veil because of oppression and continued to wear them because of oppression, and it would be silly to think that the lift from wearing the veil was actually real, but then ask why anthropologist and journalist would question the purpose of the veil. She even quotes one of her favorite books, was about Christian missionaries helping Muslim women by telling their story, and also goes to a reception with a photography exhibit of Muslim women in burkas in which she writes,”Please join us in helping to lift the veil”, but then questions the purpose of lifting the veil. Maybe I read it incorrectly but for me she was completely facetious in tone and hypocritical with the point she was trying to argue.

In her article “ Do Muslim Women Really Need Saving?,” Lila Abu-Lughod explains that Muslim women, especially Afghan women were being mobilized as symbols in the War on Terrorism. She explains that people in the West somehow believes that by gaining insight into the culture of the Middle East, the religious beliefs, and the way women are treated, they will unlock the information they need to combat the War on Terrorism. In a speech that she gave Laura Bush said that the War on Terrorism was also a war to fight for women’s rights (in countries where women aren’t as liberated like the West). One of the main topics of discussion was the burqa. Many believe that the burqa was a sign of oppression of Muslim women. It was view was the ultimate sign of oppression of Afghan women under the Taliban government, and Americans wanted to “save” these women. However, even after being free from Taliban rule, Muslim women still went about with coverings. What Abu-Lughod is trying to get Westerners to understand is that there is a difference in culture. People dress differently in different societal communities. These women wear different types of covering voluntarily, as it is their way of respecting and honoring their culture. Americans and others who want to “save” these women use the burqa and other cultural coverings as an excuse to have their presence in a country there their interest lies. Abu- Lughod explains that we need to learn to accept differences and move toward a society that seeks to end global injustices. Abu-Lughod says in order to accept differences we need to be able to see that Americans can’t just want Afghan women to be just like use. Westerners need to understand that what we want for them after liberation may not be the same things they want for themselves. Also, there may me different ideas about justice and the future so we should be mindful of the rhetoric used when talking about “saving” people. She criticized the way Laura Bush categorized Afghan women as someone that needs saving (by American troops). She says to imply that you are saving someone, you have to be saving them from something. She compares these current statements about saving “others” to those of the 19th century and says that they are the exact same sentiments worded differently. Abu-Lughod says that we need to seek to find ways to help create a world that is better for everyone.

In Lila Abu-Lughod’s work, “Do Muslim Women Really Need Saving” she explains how the culture of Muslim people are judged and used as an excuse for the United States to intervene in Afghanistan problems and try to take over or control them. She explains how Americans have created this idea that the way people are treated or act here is the way everyone should be treated in other countries. Muslim women in their countries are fighting for rights because they are constantly oppressed and seen as inferior which brings up ideas of whether they need assistance in order to change their situation. In reality these problems are recognized but nothing is done about it as it is only used as an excuse to get involved. Through a different perspective Abu-Lughod also argues that just because the people of Afghanistan are used to different customs and traditions it doesn’t mean that they need “saving”. In Afghanistan many women are covered from head to toe which they have been used to for years and it is very symbolic in their culture. The difference are not a cry for help which Abu-Lughod is trying to et across. Instead of judging cultural differences and using them against the people we should accept them. These differences have been used to make Afghans seem like bad people who are often blamed for any terrorism in America. For example after 9/11, muslims have been widely blamed for the attack and from then on for many more. Although, from the outside Afghan women may seem like they need help, according to the United Stated their religious beliefs and cultural preferences are not a cry for help. Abu-lughod also includes that Muslim women are able to teach their daughters, express themselves, and have gained many rights without being afraid of punishments.

In the piece “Do Muslim Women Really Need Saving” by Lila Abu-Lughod discusses the ethics about the current war on terrorism. She also explains how cultural difference causes a strong divide in people and causes people to judge others based off of what they believe in. Ever since the terrorist attacks on 9/11, Muslims have been attacked for their beliefs and are the cause to all terrorist activities around the world. The kind of questions that news programs posed on women after 9/11, showed how they were being magnified for everything they believed in. Did Islam allow this activity? What did Muslim women believe in? The question being posed is why are people looking into the culture of a region, particularly beliefs and religion, as if it would help explain why these terrorist attacks occur.On the topic of the cultural mode of explanation, she explains how Muslim women were symbolic of the war on terror. In the speech given by Laura Bush, she wanted Muslim women wanted to justify American bombing. This would allow women to live in fear without punishment, and how the war on terrorism also involved the fight for the rights of Muslim women. The discussion of the veil or burqas displays the importance that this holds to women in Muslim society. The wearing of the burqas is a big sign in the oppression against women. Although, it is sign of oppression against women, it is also a sign of respect to the Muslim religion. Muslim women are not gonna throw their burqas on the floor to symbolize rebellion. Taking off the burqa does not give them freedom. The Taliban did not invent the burqa, it was meant to symbolize a women’s modesty. It protected women against the strangers in society. A women throwing off a burqa would essentially cause a woman to disrespect herself and lose her modesty. The culture is essentially voluntary, not forced on women. The certain cultures such as wearing a burqa is a choice made by the Muslim women and not by society.