A matter of perspective

It is fascinating to me the assumptions that we make sometimes. I agree that we all base our world view from our individual experiences, acculturation, positions of power and privilege, etc. But it still strikes me when I hear/see evidence that goes against, my pre-conceived notions.

I admit that I am superficial, as a matter of fact, I pride myself in it, because I know that my particular level of superficiality is benign (I don’t starve myself to fit into a body concept, I don’t openly discriminate against ugly people, I don’t make fun of people to their face when they don’t know how to dress).

That being said, I admit that I did find it extremely fascinating that the burqa was not mentioned at all by Muslim women during interviews on the needs of the female Muslim community.

Western believed theoretical symbol of oppression aside, I just honestly do not know how they survive underneath those portable ovens. I can barely manage in my light linens in physically pains me (I don think I sweat more) when I see these women walk around as if nothing was wrong covered head to toe in black – most of the time synthetic – OVER their clothes. Maybe Muslim women are just built stronger.

I agree that there are other more important priorities in the empowerment of Muslim women, but do you not think you would be more comfortable in that voting booth in some shorts and a tank top?

MUSLIM WOMEN DON'T SEE THEMSELVES AS OPPRESSED
New York Times reported in Push Journal 08/Jun/06
SOURCE: Push Journal, 08/Jun/06

Political Equality is Seen to be More Important Than Gender Equality

Muslim women do not think they are conditioned to accept second-class status or view themselves as oppressed, according to a survey released by the Gallup Organization.

The survey, "What Women Want: Listening to the Voices of Muslim Women," is a part of The Gallup World Poll, which plans to survey 95 percent of the earth's population over the next century.

According to the poll, conducted in 2005, a strong majority of Muslim women believe they should have the right to vote without influence, work outside the home and serve in the highest levels of government. In more than 8,000 face-to-face interviews conducted in eight predominantly Muslim countries, the survey found that many women in the Muslim world did not see sex issues as a priority because other issues were more pressing.

When asked what they resented most about their own societies, a majority of Muslim women polled said that a lack of unity among Muslim nations, violent extremism, and political and economic corruption were their main concerns.

The hijab, or head scarf, and burqa, the garment covering face and body, seen by some Westerners as tools of oppression, were never mentioned in the women's answers to the open-ended questions, the poll analysts said.

Concerning women's rights in general, most Muslim women polled associated sex equality with the West. 78 per cent of Moroccan women, 71 per cent of Lebanese women, and 48 per cent of Saudi women polled linked legal equality with the West. Still, a majority of the respondents did not think adopting Western values would help the Muslim world's political and economic progress.

The most frequent response to the question, "What do you admire least about the West?" was the general perception of moral decay, promiscuity and pornography that pollsters called the "Hollywood image" that is regarded as degrading to women.

At 97 per cent, Lebanon had the highest percentage of women who said they believed they should be able to make their own voting decisions, followed by Egypt and Morocco at 95 per cent. Pakistan was lowest, at 68 per cent.