Thesis
My thesis will be based on Feminism in the late 20th and 21st century in Western Europe, North America and compared to Feminism in middle eastern countries. I want to focus my thesis on why feminism is still necessary and how feminist art makes a difference in either culture I have been researching sexuality and politics, the use of the Word 'feminazi' as a way of degrading the feminist movement, and terms like "modern-day feminist", degrading, negative and harmful words used against women that are deemed socially acceptable in todays society, the female form and how women are played against each other in the media, stereotypes accosiated with feminism such as it being an anti men movement rather than an equal rights movement. I want to research radical feminism and question how it affects the feminist movement, why feminist art is relevant in western and middle eastern culture from the late 20th century to the present and the sexist views that still exist about women.
According to senior Islamic cleric, Sheik Taj Aldin al-Hilali while refering to the sexual abuse of Muslim women "If you take out uncovered meat and place it outside ... without cover, and the cats come to eat it ... whose fault is it, the cats' or the uncovered meat's? The uncovered meat is the problem. If she was in her room, in her home, in her hijab, no problem would have occurred." - Internet source -Thegaurdian.com 2006.
Washington-based family therapist and author Michael Gurian has suggested that boys evolved over the millennia to be hunters, not lovers or nurturers, males are less capable of emotion and of forming deep personal relationships without persistent tutoring- Source - Article, Public Interest. Summer99, Issue 136, p3. 15p.
The idea that...
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... Return to Nature" by Holly Myers - 2007, "In the Pink of the Carnivalesque" - Debra J. Byrne - 2005, "At Play in the Slaughterhouse of American Pop" - Carlo McCormick - 2001, "Tracing the connections between Bunnies, Bees, and Abe Lincoln" - Mike McGee - 2001, Ragazine.cc "Feminist Art of the Middle East" by Virginia Fabbri Butera, Ph.D. - 2013, The New York times "Behind the Veil" by Lorraine Ali - 2010, Shirin Neshat's "Turbulent" - Youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2DNMG2s_O0, Sarah Abu Abdallah: 'Saudi Automobile', 2012 - Youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28AV6sVDY18, "The photography of Mariel Clayton http://www.thephotographymarielclayton.com/, 'Visibly Female' Feminism art movement and art today by Hilary Robinson, Feminism and Contemporary art by Jo Anna Isaak, Feminism and art history; Questioning the Litany by Norma Broude and Mary D. Garrard.
Both el Saadawi and Al-Shaykh both show how perception and expression are both affected within the confines of politics, social opportunities, and male privilege depicted in their stories. Whether the reader is a follower of the feminist movement or not, it is very clear and easy to see that these women are not being treated with the respect that any human being deserves. The misogynistic stranglehold on society, especially in this part of the world, is excessive and avoidable in today’s world but it is very likely that the traditional, conservative ways of the past will continue to control and inhibit women from being able to be fully treated as equals for many years to come, perhaps even after this generation has
The Islamic Revolution of 1979 placed an ideological wedge that created an increasingly pervasive rift in gender equality that is now only gradually being successfully challenged and correct upon.
"We ask justice, we ask equality, we ask that all the civil and political rights that belong to citizens of the United States, be guaranteed to us and our daughters forever ("Declaration” 18). This statement from the Declaration of Rights of the Women of the United States, compiled by the National Woman Suffrage Association, was read on July 4th, 1876 at Independence Square as an unexpected part of the nation’s centennial celebration. Originally, five women made a request for the document to be read at the official proceedings, but it was denied; however, the women decided to continue with their plan. At the celebration, they marched straight down the aisle to the podium where Susan B. Anthony delivered their Declaration to a “receptive crowd” (Rynder 15). The spirit evident in this event and statement completely captures the essence of the women’s revolution, not only in the United States, but in Europe as well. Feminism, according to the Oxford Dictionary, is the advocacy of women’s rights on the grounds of political, social, and economic equality to men (1). This idea of feminism was exemplified with the actions of the five women beginning more than 100 years ago; however, in today’s society, many would agree that women are shown nearly the same impartiality as with men. The women’s movements in Europe and the United States had political, economic, and social similarities and differences that led to this revolution.
The Middle-Eastern culture is very different from that of the United States. Particularly, the way women are treated. Women in the US have as much freedom as they would like; whereas the women in the Middle-East have very little. In the Middle-East women are severely restricted in every aspect of their lives. They are not allowed to drive a car or go in public without the presence of a male family member, they have to be covered from their heads to their ankles in the presence of men, and they have very little choice, in who they marry.
Nussbaum, Felicity. “Risky Business: Feminism Now and Then.” Tulsa Studies in Women’s Literature 26.1 (Spring 2007): 81-86. JSTOR. Web. 11 Mar. 2014.
Women’s rights in the Middle East are being restricted, therefore there are many different reactions. Some people were in favor of women having equal rights while there are some who are against women to have the same rights. Since before times, many countries in the Middle East have been taking women for granted and minimized their rights by telling them they can't do something or selling them as if they were prized. When women were treated as prizes it was a practice in Afghanistan called Ba’ad that used women as the compensation, for example a story of a girl named Sakina. She was a consolation prize so that her brother could marry a woman and the Jirga system told her she had to marry a 80 year old guy when she was like 18. This tells me
In the book, Women in the Middle East, a Saudi Arabian proverb states, "A girl possesses nothing but a veil and a tomb" (Harik and Marston 83). The key words, "veil" and "tomb" lend evidence to the fact that many Middle Eastern women lack identity symbolized by the “veil” and lack the right of ownership except for their veil and the tomb. This statement further enforces the notion that many women in the Middle East are expected to serve and tolerate the oppression of the men in their lives throughout their lives on this earth. Moreover, it confirms that many of these women do not get the opportunity to obtain education, join the work force, and even participate in the political affairs of the country. This arrangement further helps the Middle Eastern men to view women as their properties, servants, or even as slaves. Ultimately, there are three main reasons why Middle Eastern men engage in the act of oppressing their women.
I will do research into finer details of feminist theory and see if there is a particular branch of feminist theory that best fits the kind of research I want to do. I also want to do more research into the idea of ISAs as described in the text and use the idea of institutionalized ways of thought to contextualize my argument and frame where I’m coming from.
The Arab world is traditionally and originally a male-dominated culture, where male authority is the norm throughout most Arab countries. Subsequently, even with the introduction of Islam and the acknowledgement of women’s rights coming about in the early 20th century, as will later be described, there still remain those traditional components that affect male-female interactions and relationships in Arab societies. Gender and gender inequality are present in Arab societies still today and are at the forefront of Arab societies. Aspects of gender inequality, for the most part, appear with respect to those of employment and education opportunities, political rights, and justices in marriage. As a starting point, one can stress that there is a general view, on a large global scale that Arab society is one where gender issues and gender relations exist despite the recent protests/riots.
Feminism is a word that is stock-full of implications, and has many misconceptions. Full Frontal Feminism by Jessica Valenti attempts to give a broad overview of what feminism is, and how you should feel about it (hint: it’s positively). The book is directed primarily towards the younger generation, and talks about a variety of issues relevant to the feminist movement today and in history. The weaknesses of the book include the casual writing, the assumptions Valenti makes, and the contradictory statements that are consistently made. The strengths include providing an entertaining, broad overview of feminism, and discussing ways to contribute to gender equality. Overall, the book is more likely to be a positive experience for high-schoolers that identify as women then college-aged individuals looking for a critical analysis of issues society faces in regards to gender inequality.
Nothing has more of an effect to the controversial conversation of women’s liberation than literature. The subtle cues from Cosmopolitan emphasizing femininity: beauty, sensuality, appreciating the female body… Self-help guidebooks persisting the woman to let go and just be free for once. It is liberating for the woman to see such medias to act upon what they were thinking and to even go beyond that. Talks of
Jones, A. (ed.) (2010) The Feminism and Visual Culture Reader, 2. New York: NY: Routledge.
The Women of the Middle East have played substantial roles for their corresponding countries since the advent of colonialism in the region. Middle Eastern women have worked in all types of fields including medicine, education, agriculture, government, private sector, and even defense. They have kept roofs over their family’s heads while their husbands were away in wars, or even in foreign countries to work in jobs that they could not find in their own countries. The roles of women in the countries of Yemen and Oman are no exception, but while they still find ways to contribute to their country, they care constantly stereotyped, discriminated, and ridiculed by men who are known and unknown to them. This paper will discuss the individual contributions of the women living in Yemen and Oman, and will discuss in further state laws and cultural norms that are affecting the women living in these countries today.
This essay will aim to discuss the relationship between Western Feminisms and International Feminisms as explored by various non-Western Feminists. It will aim to investigate the origins of this 'relationship ', the complexities/complications within it, evaluate how effective both paradigms are in the third wave and ultimately what is still needed to be done to create a transnational, intersectional feminist movement irrespective of the backgrounds of all women.
Savage, Ellena. "'Naked Jihad' Sacrifices Feminism To Racism." Eureka Street 23.7 (2013): 30-31. Academic Search Complete. 18 Oct. 2013. PDF