å November 2017

In “Do Muslim Women Really Need Saving” Lila Abu-Lughod discuss the ethics concerning Americans perception on the War on Terror. She discusses the role the women of Afghanistan play in reasoning the War on Terror. She begins by analyzing First Lady Laura Bush’s address on November 17, 2001, just a few months after September 2001. Abu-Lughod highlights Bush’s use of muslim women in Afghanistan. Bush proclaimed that the women of Afghanistan were liberated, they were able to listen music and teach their children without the fear of being punished, largely due to the United State’s military gain. This in turn justified the United States’ involvement in Afghanistan. Yet, Bush neglects to discuss the malnutrition, poverty, poor health and unemployment the women of Afghanistan endure. Bush discussed the role and treatment of women in Afghanistan rather then bringing to light the U.S repressive history. Abu-Lughod then further critiques Bush’s perception of the Muslim women by discussing the burqa. The burqa has been perceived as a sign of oppression. When the Taliban took control many women began to wear burqas. This caused many to believed that the Taliban enforced all women of Afghanistan to wear burqas. This is not the case, the burqa represents the separation of men’s and women’s spheres –  it symbolizes modesty. The burqa allowed women to walk without a male companion as it protected them from interacting with men of the public. Many could not comprehend why the Afghan women did not abandoned the burqas when they were “liberated” due to the fact that many were not aware that the burqa actually allowed the Afghan women to be feel liberated. The burqa was transformed into a political and ethical problem when it reality is was not, it was a voluntary choice made by the Afghan women. Our perception is largely due to to our ignorance towards others culture. The Afghan women are not being saved by the mighty Americans invading their country. Frankly, we use their position in their communities towards our benefit. In this case, it was used to justify a war.

In her essay Do Muslim Women Really Need Saving? Anthropological Reflections on Cultural Relativism and Its Others, Lila Abu-Lughod describes the way in which women of Afghan descent are utilized within the “War on Terrorism”. Abu-Lughod uses the term “cultural mode of explanation” to describe the practices that were used in an attempt to generate insight regarding counterterrorism. The investigation of Afghan people was believed to be a more useful tactic in this respect as opposed to creating an understanding of the political and historical events that have contributed to the development of terrorism.

Westerners fail to realize that they have not played as significant of a role as they believe they have in the liberation of women hailing from Afghanistan. Certain aspects of Afghan culture are used to justify their interactions with the land as a means to create this “liberation”. For example, it is widely-known that the Taliban required women to wear the burqa, which is commonly perceived as a symbol of oppression. Confusion became somewhat widespread after women were “liberated” from the Taliban and had more freedoms to choose what materials adorned their bodies, though still chose to wear the burqa. What had not been realized is that the burqa was perceived as an “appropriate form of dress” (Abu-Lughod 785) and was a social norm within the women’ native lands. That the problem was not exactly the rule of the Taliban, but how both the preexisting and new political, historical, and social conditions impacted the way of living for native Afghan women, and Afghan people as a whole. Despite the absence of the Taliban, this does not change the fact that these women still face oppression in Afghanistan.

Abu-Lughod believes that we must not simply accept cultural explanations as a means to understand that way a large body of people live amongst one another. It is simply a matter of showing respect for cultures that differ from ours, and understanding that every cultural has a different standard for living.

In “Do Muslim Women Really Need Saving? Anthropological Reflections on Cultural Relativism and Its Others,” Lila Abu- Lughod characterizes and critiques the connection affiliated with the war on terror. Lila Abu-Lughod like many people who majored in college for Women gender studies has shifted the focus in Afghanistan from terrorism and the control of the Taliban to how women are able to express themselves. In Lila Abu-Lughods article she explains how the invasion of Afghanistan by the United States was not successful. She states how Laura Bush has said that the women there are free after the invasion of Afghanistan and the fall of the Taliban. Her main argument is centered around the burqa. During the control of the Taliban women were required to wear Burqas, and not go to school to receive an education. Women walked around with their burqas as if it was a second home. Even after they have been “liberated” from the Taliban they still do not remove their Burqas. This is even more confusing because she then explains the origin of burqas. It originated from the Pashtun Tradition. Lila disagrees with Laura Bush when she says they have been successful and that the occupation of Afghanistan plays a role into proving freedoms to the Afghan peoples and especially to their women. Women are still oppressed in Afghanistan. That America is just like all the other imperialistic countries that have plagued the muslim world, or mainly the Middle East. Lila Abu-Lughod’s article is very unclear behind motives because it seems as though she contradicts herself. Unless this article isn’t about an argument but rather an informative one. To find an effective solution in Afghanistan you must dictate the patriarchy in each and every impoverished village in Afghanistan. Edit the very manuscripts and religious contexts in which these people have been practicing for hundreds of years. Instill your foreign government into the nation and tell them whats wrong and whats right. While you focus on the patriarchal relationships in each village and each household be sure you effectively combat any insurgents. Lila Abu-Lughod’s article gives us a step 4 when we haven’t even reached a step 1 in a developing country called Afghanistan.

In the article, “Do Muslim Women Really Need Saving?” written by Lila Abu-Lughod, she explains the difficulties Muslim women and people of the Islamic culture face. Muslim people are judges based off of their appearance and their culture. Muslim women have to fight for their rights and freedoms in their homeland because they have very little freedom. Since the terror attack in New York City on 9/11, Muslim men and woman have been subjected and treated poorly just because of their religion and beliefs. Most muslim women will wear a hijab which covers her hair on her head. Sometime’s muslim women would wear a burqa which covers them from head to toe. If these women did not cover themselves they would be threatened and even harmed. These muslim women have been oppressed in so many ways. In my opinion going off of the title of this article, yes I do believe that Muslim women need saving. These women are being discriminated against just because of their religion. Even though many feel muslim women are being oppressed by wearing these burqas, it is also a sign or respect for their religion and their culture by wearing them. It is too show that they are being modest. I once watched a video online about muslim women talking about wearing their hijabs and most of them like wearing them because it is normal for them. One of the main reasoning behind wearing these is so men can fall in love with a women by who she is as a person, and not what she looks like, her inner beauty.

Lila Abu-Lughod discusses in her essay, “Do Muslim Women Really Need Saving”, the connection between the Islamic faith and Muslim women through the effects of the War on Terror. Due to this war, the topic on Muslim women and Islam has changed and became sensitive and Abu-Lughod connects this with “cultural mode of explanation”. One way Abu-Lughod was able to interpret this change was through the media and historical context.

Abu-Lughod explains how supposedly terrorists are connected with the Talibans as if they were one word, and there was not much difference from each other. This was a horror to see because this was just connecting it back to Afghanistan. Laura Bush emphasizes that the United States was able to provide Muslim women rights that they did not have before. However, not everyone will believe that because in fact it was the Westerners that has caused in colonialism but not many are aware of their effects. One particular issue was the British invasion in south Asia. These white men perceived themselves as saving these brown women from brown men, but in reality most women were oppressed and could not seek an education. Another incident was the French rule over Algeria. Algeria has long fought for their independence, but this did not occur to these two girls mentioned in Lughod’s essay. The two girls went as far as associating freedom with Christianity. As if, not following the religion automatically meant you were oppressed, which I believe Lughod was trying to point out in this text. People often mistake certain terms with freedom and not understanding why do some people practice terms that are not considered “normal”.

At the end of the day, people should be able to practice whatever they want because it is their right. In fact, the problem is that people do not go into depth of the idea and let something like the War on Terror to influence them. Instead they should look at context before that.

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.