Monday, March 19, 2012

Do Muslim Women Really Need Saving?


This article written by Lila Abu-Lughod gives a logical look at America’s current “War on Terror” taking place in the Middle East, most notably in Afghanistan.  Abu-Lughod focuses more specifically on how America uses the issue of oppressive laws by the Taliban against women in Afghanistan as a way to justify war.  We as Americans are so narrow-minded when it comes to dealing with the rest of the world, especially the Middle East, that we truly do not take the time to even attempt to understand the history and cultural situation in that region of the world.  In America, the burqa is a symbol of oppression and sexual discrimination.  Do we ever stop to consider what the burqa means in the context of a Middle Eastern woman herself?  Do we ever consider that maybe there are more pressing problems than something as small as a burqa?  This is not to suggest that the laws and regulations regarding the burqa are not negative, but we definitely tend to focus on select issues, and not take time to consider other ones.

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