Judith Butler, a controversial writer and professor of philosophy, known to write about gender and sexuality, along with a recent interest in war, discusses the topic of “what counts as human” and “what makes for a liveable life,” in an essay titled, “Beside Oneself: On the Limits of Sexual Autonomy.” Butler examines the paradigms set by society and politics of what is considered the “norm” and how one is only acknowledged in his or her humanity based on these standards. Those that are outside the expected norm, such as homosexuals, bisexuals, transgender and transsexual are not given the same considerations of their human experiences and rights the way the “norm” are. However, who is to say what is normal and constitutes a life worth living? The purpose of her essay explores the concept of the ever evolving reality of what humans face through a variety of experiences, such as grief, violence, rage, oppression, and gender. The following paper will examine and discuss the concepts presented by Butler through analysis of the Afghanistani film “Osama,” in addition to other issues in the world that show evidence of the inconsideration of many individuals who are not treated like humans.
A significant message in the film Osama was the oppressive nature that exists for women in the Middle East. Women are not given any respect or dignity in this culture as can be seen in the opening scene as a large group of women are gathered to protest for their right to work, while fully covered up in burkas. As the Taliban enters town, they are all forced to run as they are shot at and hosed down like animals. Clearly from a societal, religious, and political stance woman have no right to speak, work, or even walk around the streets without a man in this region of the world (based on the film). The desperation that these women face is absolutely devastating and inhumane from the standard of western democracy. The conditions for these women, especially those that are widows or young girls are a life full of poverty, difficulty, and fear. Just walking around the town expressing their frustration for the need for work and income creates a situation where their lives are in danger.
It seems Butler would say that these women in Afghanistan, where the film is made, are not treated as humans by the men of the Taliban. That their lives are not valued as liveable without the presence of a man, and even when they have a man in their life they must still obey the wishes of the man. A woman’s position is entirely without power under the Islamic ruler-ship of the Taliban. Unfortunately the Muslim women in the film are not able to use “language to secure legal protections and entitlements” (Butler p.116). To be confined to one’s home without the ability to work for income to feed one’s family, in addition to having absolutely no ability to express concerns is to treat another as if they do not matter.
These conditions are not just unique to the Middle East, but can be seen in many other undeveloped nations around the world where the female gender is not living in equality. Many African nations have restrictions for women that are similar in nature to those that are seen in the film, Osama. Females in Africa are limited by the duties of being a daughter, wife, and mother. Those who venture to pursue business are often discouraged because the laws do not honor a woman’s right as a human right. Ownership of land that belongs to their fathers or husbands is not automatically given to the daughters or wives, but taken from them by other townsmen.
Going back to the film, Osama, there is a critical point when the grandmother begins to tell a story of a boy who wishes he were a girl so that he would not have to work (“Osama”). A tale is told that when one stands under a rainbow a boy can become a girl and a girl can become a boy (“Osama”). At this point in the film, the grandmother and mother decide its best to cut the girls hair, have her wear her father’s old clothes, and pretend to be a boy so she could find work to provide a source of food before the girl, the mother, and grandmother die of starvation. During this portion of the film the gender-based roles that are typical to the male and female sexes is brought to light through watching her be forced to adopt the life of a boy living in Afghanistan under Taliban rule. Things like her voice, her mannerism, her shoes, and every other aspect of her daily life are foreign to her as a boy. Even the way the men and boys pray is distinct from the women. Butler would comment on these scenes in the movie by saying, “Yet it is through the body that gender and sexuality become exposed to others, implicated in social processes, inscribed by cultural norms, and apprehended in their social meaning” (116).
The young girl who is the main character of the film, Osama, is the ‘human’ artifact who is being deproduced as a result of being a girl. Her opportunity to be trained and educated by the Taliban is immediately brought to an end as soon as she is found out. Only boys are given the opportunity to be educated, although in the case of the Taliban, that education is solely based on learning Islam and training to fight for the cause. This shows that the males are given much more power and a position in the political system of the region, but the females are to remain only in servitude to the men. The unfortunate fate that awaits this girl is not in her hands but in the hands of the law that is being controlled by the men of the Taliban. Her life has not been livable and only continues to get worse as she is caught and prosecuted, only to be married off to a Mullah.
She is denied her humanity in every aspect of her life from the very beginning of the movie until the end. Consideration for any happiness or grief is not given to her by the society that is heavily oppressive to all women. Taking one’s ability to earn income for access to adequate food and living standards are a clear sign of disenfranchisement that women face under Taliban rule. The poor widows who are no longer supported by their husbands or male family members who are killed off in wars are left destitute finding whatever means they can to barely survive. One might as well be discussing a wild animal when comparing the lack of respect given to women in this society.
An example of a similar condition exists for many living in poverty in the inner city neighborhoods in America. Many of the poorest individuals, primarily African American and Hispanic citizens, find themselves living at the mercy of “the system.” Being born into a lower income household perpetuates this chance of establishing any new or hopeful life for them. Butler would agree that many of the black and Hispanic citizens living in poverty in America are in a similar condition of hopelessness as many of the people living under Taliban rule.
Upon further consideration, the Taliban does not seem to value any of the lives of the citizens of the town they have invaded. Even the men are questioned and living in fear of the Taliban. The entire structure of their society is repressed by fear of being killed for breaking the extremist laws of the Taliban. Parents are not even given a right to decide if they want to send their boys to the schools taught by men from the Taliban. When nearly every individual who is not in a leadership position with the Taliban is treated with complete disregard of their humanity, it is no surprise that the attitude towards the women and girls is even more difficult. Evidence exists that the Taliban’s ideal human is an obedient Muslim who abides by the extremist views that they are imposing on the people without any regard for what they prefer.
Compare that to the rich elite members in American society that have positioned themselves to be the only ones who are respected and heard of by the politicians and it is easy to see a similarity. A large majority of the middle and lower class portions of the United States population are held hostage by the rules and policies set in place by the powerful elite. These rich individuals can afford to purchase politician to adjust laws and policies in their favor while the majority continue to have a decline in the quality of life.
Butler talks about the experience of being “beside oneself” in her essay, which can be seen in a couple different scenes in the movie. There is a point in the film where she is suspected of being a girl and harassed by all the boys in the courtyard. It is easy to see that she is so afraid that she is almost having an out of body type experience as she aims to protect herself from the reality she is experiencing. Again, she is beside herself when she is hung into a well after being caught as a girl. She is hysterically crying and grievous of her condition fearing what seems to be the end of her life as she cries out for her mother. Butler may suggest that the girl in the film is beside herself with both rage and grief with her situation (116).
“Although we struggle for rights over our own bodies, the very bodies for which we struggle are not quite ever only our own” (Butler 117). Evidence of justification for this quote can be seen throughout the film, Osama. The first situation that is worth mentioning in regard to “our bodies not belonging to us” is seen with the way women are forced to remain completely covered up, without any option. They are not the ones in charge of their bodies and what they feel is the appropriate attire, but the rulers are imposing these laws upon the women to remain covered up, even so far as the ankles not showing. Next, when the grandmother and mother decide that the little girl should be turned into a boy there is no consideration for what she wants and whether or not she is ok with living life on the streets as a boy to help support the family. In this case, her mother and grandmother are making decisions for the girl’s body. Another scene, when the boys at the Taliban school are told how to do ablution, there is an ownership over their bodies by the old man who is instructing the boys on how to properly wash after experiencing a “wet dream.” Lastly, the final scene when the little girl has been married off to the old man, she has no choice over what he will do with her. All these situations that are presented in the film are examples of what Butler meant by us not owning our bodies. Although these are extreme scenarios, there are many other situations in life that could provide proof that Butler is correct in her statements.
A modern Western example for this can be seen in how young black men are racially profiled by law enforcement officials in America. So many black men and women in America are targeted based on their skin color and their social status. In recent years, as a result of the mobile phones that can take video, along with the internet, there has been a surge in revealing the corruption of the police against black citizens. Instead of getting treated with justice, these people lack any rights to their bodies as they get shot at so ruthlessly by those who are supposed to protect them. The result is a rage and grief that the families and communities face as they recognize that no one will stand up for their rights and dignity.
Similar disregard can be seen in African nations where militant groups invade villages destroying the lives of the people. Women are raped and girls are kidnapped in a manner that shows that these predators do not care for or value these people as humans. Clearly they do not think that their lives are worth living, so they come in and take what they want without recognizing the horrible impact it has on the people.
Many of the examples from both the movie and real life conditions could be related to Butler’s exploration of “what counts as a human” and “what makes life liveable.” Ideals are set by those who have established power that limit and disregard the needs and wants of the people. Consider that any of the groups discussed could be replaced by Butler’s account of lesbians and gays in the following quote from Butler’s essay-
In other words, it is one thing to assert the reality of lesbian and gay lives as a reality, and to insist that these are lives worthy of protection in their specificity and commonality; but it is quite another to insist that the very public assertion of gayness calls into question what counts as reality and what counts as human life (Butler 123-124).
Whether one is discussing the characters and conditions of the people living under Taliban rule or the poor minority population of America, it is evident that the oversights of human rights are practiced by the authoritarian figures across the globe. The boundaries set by those in power only honor their ideals and expectations of which lives are worthy and which are not. If the individual has not willingly conformed to the rules of the leaders their rights are entirely violated without any consideration for the individual as a fellow human being.
Throughout the paper, the concepts and conditions examined present situations that could be better accounted for in their humanity. The large majority of citizens across the world live under conditions that many of the rich and powerful would never allow to exist for themselves or their loved ones; however, without acknowledging that all people are human and have certain rights in life, it is easier to isolate themselves as the only ones with the right to grieve, celebrate, be educated, and have the choices to decide the direction they want to take their lives. Clearly a disconnection from reality is what many of the cruel antics of the politicians and ruling class demonstrate in their lack of acknowledging that all humans, regardless of race, religion, gender, social class, or any other differences are just as entitled to the human experience as any other individual.
As the essay comes to a conclusion it is important to review the concepts learned by the assignment. Butler’s essay provides an eye-opening message about the way humans treat one another and the biased views that exist as a result of differences. Just because another individual chooses to live in a way that does not fit into the reality of one’s own preference, does not justify the mistreatment of the other group(s) or individual(s). The film, Osama, presents a difficult look inside what happens when a group of individuals imposes their will on others in a manner that robs them of their human rights. It is sad that this film is not just a fictional piece, but an honest look at the inhuman standards that are set for the powerless members of society. To force another to live in fear and desperation by imposing violence on them is to not care about their life being liveable. It is as if the people are not humans, but animals of a sort. If there was a sincere effort to recognize the people to be no different than the decision making powerful people, then a system of equality and justice would be established as the standard for all. There is no other way to accept how people can allow other human being to suffer as a result of the unique choices and opinions that exist around the world in various ways.
Works Cited
Azam25. "Osama 2003 Afghan Movie (English Sub)." YouTube. YouTube, 2014. Web. 30 Apr.
2016. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpFJJd3ZNPo>.
Butler, Judith. “Beside Oneself: On the Limits of Sexual Autonomy.” Print.
