Unveil Me.

Going off from the reading “Do Muslim Women Really Need Saving” I have to admit I agree with what it said about the women being oppressed by wearing the veil. Women have worn the veil to protect themselves from the men out there, it has been a sign of self-respect and dignity, but also a sign of oppression issued by the higher men in power and the demanding voice of their fathers and husbands. I personally think the veil is a sign of oppression against women to achieve equality in their households and country. Many women have been living under this veil for years as a sign of loyalty and respect to their family and husbands. Women in Iraq have been beaten, abused, mistreated and taken advantage of in every form possible, they are living a prison behind their own veils. Many women have also been discriminated by the use of this veil, but yet women do not take it off, they feel like it is part of their culture, and if they take it off it is seen as a sign of disrespect for their family and for themselves, also against their religion. Religion also forms a big part of these women’s everyday’s lives. They act in order to satisfy their God, and to guide their salvation. On the other hand, I also think that just how they should not be forced to wear the veil they should not be forced to get rid of it either, because that would be another form of oppression. Therefore, women would be leaving one form of oppression and led into another, in the end women would just turn out to remain oppressed and forced to do what others think is better for them, rather than what they think it is better for themselves. I think the politics on the veil will remain as long as the oppression against women lasts

When Will This End?

When Will This End?

The readings for 4/21 brought to my attention the serious and on-going problems in foreign countries with violence against women. In Iraq, hundreds of women are raped, kidnapped, and murdered every single day for the simplest things such as not being dressed appropriately. A quote that best summarizes the reasoning behind this is, “Often, the first salvo in a war for theocracy is a systemic attack on women and minorities who represent or demand an alternative or competing vision for society.” This basically says, to me, that these men want to kill off anyone who wants to challenge their authority, power, and control over the country. Unfortunately, women are at the bottom of the totem pole in Iraq and are the first to be targeted. It is sad to read that women cannot even walk out of their own house without being harassed or killed simply for just being a woman. It also disgusts me to think that women’s rights groups have to be hidden and in secrecy out of fear of being blown up. How is an organization to help women supposed to do its job if they are not allowed to speak about it outside of their hidden location? I believe that this is one of the main reasons why it continues to happen in Iraq, because not nearly enough women are able to speak out about the problems. Also, I do agree with Fang when she says that these women need our help. If we can go into a country such as Iraq, intervene in their society, and take control of their people, why can we not start to help the problems of violence against women? American women are fortunate enough to have the freedom to talk, walk, dress, and act as they please without being killed, raped, or harassed on a daily basis. As a powerful nation, American women AND men should step in and help these poor women out.

depriving rights of women in third world countries

Fang discusses the realities of women in third world countries such as Iraq. The women of third world counties are deprived of their rights and controlled by their politicians. For example, as stated in the reading, “the dangerous political environment of target assassinations has prevented them from being very outspoken”, therefore having a direct effect on women’s success from occurring. As a women living in Iraq, the fear of being raped, kidnapped, and murdered keep women inside the home for protection. Going off of that point, the government controls the everyday lives of women by not providing safety out in the streets. This is another direct way the lives of women are controlled by the men running the government. The Hierarchy structure of men being having the power of women is maintained through the government and its politics. As an enormous effect that the women in Iraq face is the fact of leaving their countries for their own safety if not stay and live with the fear every day. A great example that reinforces women’s fear is Cuidad Juarez; women are being raped and murdered on a daily basis. The government in the city is constantly stating that it is being investigated but no actions have been taken. The killing of young women is like every day new without any positive outcomes seen.

            The second important point that Fang brings up is the fact that poverty plays such a big role in the employment industry.  Poverty brings a harsh impact on the number of employment opportunities that women have. If the women of Iraq had their job but left their country; their jobs are lost completely but nothing has been done to help these women. As a successful tactic, we need to raise other countries about the awareness of the deprivation of rights and open the opportunities for women to be part of politics. We need to make women feel safe then open the issues that interest them.

Welfare is not fair

So I’m standing in line at Walmart with my 17 year old brother and we look at the lady in front of us and she pulls out a government letter with her new debit card attached to it and pays for 2 pillow pets and make up with it. My brother just looked at me in confusion and asked, “Isn’t she supposed to use that for her 4 kids’ milk”? I laughed and said unfortunately yes. I say unfortunate because the government is helping her out and instead of using what is given to her wisely she spends it on unnecessary items. This is why we have those people that want to put an end to the welfare program. However, as Ellen Bravo points out in her essay “those who want to end welfare had never known welfare- or hunger or poverty or economic hardship. They stereotype the recipients of welfare and those who really need it suffer the consequences. Bravo point out a couple of solutions in which she includes a work reform and improved transportation. The need for assistance however will continue because the government does not have the time or money to invest in something this big but they do have the money to build a bigger wall down at the border ( as if that will ever stop us).

Save the Whales, Save the Women!

I love politics, I abhor politicians, and therefore, I hate men. Ha! I don’t normally write my blog post to Valenti’s reading because sincerely, I feel she’s patronizing the reader (me) most of the time. Anyhow, I’d like to attest that politics hasn’t always been my forte but lately, my involvement in social activism has sparked fury in my little heart for justice. My involvement on campus from angrily rallying for our education in front of the Humanities building (Did you participate?) to saving orcas by picketing in front of Sea World has made me, I argue an active member of society. However, the figures Valenti presented in this reading were astounding. I was amazed at the lack of participation during the 2004 elections. Of course, those figures have changed since Obama has entered office but it’s disheartening to know that years of activism for the one thing feminists fought for during the first wave are being dismissed by our generation. I don’t want generalize and say that all women are insensitive to issues impacting us today but from recent involvement in “activism” I have witnessed the lack of females in the various rallies, sit-ins and picketing I have participated in. I’ve asked myself why are there more men then women? I can’t answer that question because I confess that I was once part of that figure Valenti presented; that is I was not legally allowed to vote, but now that I am I take every opportunity to do so. Take for example our campus’ ASI election, isn’t it incredible that Jay and Eric—are elected president and vice—only won by 6 votes! It makes you wonder who those were…

The average voter

Valenti makes a good point where women in politics would better represent women.
The problem however is getting more women in office. As educated individuals we may be all for this however the fact remains that in order to run a campaign you need money. Where do most of these campaigners get there money? From oil companies and various corporations that try to get political power in order to save themselves from paying taxes. Unfortunately these same companies are the guys who backed bush. Again, as educated individuals, we may have voted against Bush but the majority of people swayed by commercials and ads bought by campaign money will counteract your vote.

The one solution I agree completely with Valenti on is that more single women should actually start voting. Especially if it meant getting Kerry in office. Bush's policies against women should have lit a powder keg. Unfortunately like the majority of people who do not vote the women, according to the article, felt that their votes would not have mattered when in reality this is far from the truth. So many people feel that there votes don't matter when in actuality it does. Each and every vote brings a candidate closer to victory and if these women don't vote, then naturally males who do not care about women will be elected since the women's voice is unfortunately absent from the polls.

Going off topic
I find it funny how one of our most successful presidents, Bill Clinton, got many of his ideas such as medicare and medicade from his wife Hillary Clinton.

Where to leave the children?

In the reading of “What the Nation Really Thinks of Motherhood, Welfare Reform” by Ellen Bravo it explains what the government thinks that is going on with mothers who are in the welfare system. That many of these women are not using the money wisely. That some of the women either use it for drugs or for drugs for the husband. Welfare is a system that was set out there to help women have somewhat better life since they could not afford at times the basic needs of living even after their paycheck. But the government has found ways to limit the power of the women by limiting the help that they need.
Yes, it could be true that some women take advantage of the help and use the help they are getting to please their own needs and not the needs of their families. But in the many years since the development of the welfare system there have been many updates as to how these families receive their money. Before, welfare would be given by checks then the identifiable bills and now the credit card. The government has made changes that allow them to track what the people are using their card for.
But with all of their limits and the cutting of specific things in the welfare system the only harmed are the children. When childcare is not being paid for the mother has to figure out someway of keeping her child safe while still providing for the family. How can a mother do this? The person that they trust the government says they are not qualified. And the women are not going to leave her children with just anyone. This is why many children are left at home unattended. Taking care of each other and having the eldest son or daughter watch over them. If the government cared so much for these children they would do something so that these women have a better way for childcare.