Lila Abu-Lughod’s article “The Muslim woman: The power of images and the danger of pity” has been praised by many readers. Lila Abu-Lughod’s article is a criticism of how people from West view the Muslim women from the Middle East ever since the September 11 attacks. She writes that thinking the “burqa” as something that besets Muslim women of their freedom is a “reductive interpretation” and should be resisted. According to her, by denouncing “the burqa as a medieval or patriarchal imposition,” the West is actually rudely encroaching on the thoughts and understandings of women because they know what they are doing. Lila Abu-Lughod believes that the Western view that Muslim women in the Middle East are being oppressed is more of an obsession. Lila Abu-Lughod’s article makes it obvious that in the minds of West, the “burqa” has become an example of the how apparently oppressed Muslim women are.For instance, in several countries, different articles of clothing that are somehow related to Islam have been prohibited in several countries. It seems that Abu-Lughod makes a valid point with the flaws she points out in the Western assumptions about Islam, especially Muslim women. It is agreeable that assuming that Muslim women are forced to wear the “burqa” and therefore, need to be saved is a major indeed flaw. Of course, it is obvious that these women do not need rescuing, and as Abu-Lughod writes, this is one of the more complex issues of the Western view of veiled Muslim women. Another flaw is that the West assumes that Muslim women wearing religious clothing conflicts with their predefined understanding “Western values.” Abu-Lughod is also right in writing that the West is confused in considering veiling as a lack of traditionalism. What the West needs to do is respect the choices of Muslim women instead of making assumptions, and let them speak for themselves. As Lila Abu-Lughod’s article title suggests, pitying veiled Muslim women is not merely dangerous but unnecessary.
1). As Sakena Yacoobi says, employing the Quran has empowered Muslim women and has granted them equal status with men. Islamic feminism, which is being referred to as the promotion of the rights of women, especially Muslim women, through Islamic discourse, can be regarded as a stepping stone for women so that Islam can be reconciled and Muslim women can find their place in the modern world. So it is obvious that employing the Quran is an integral part of making this change. Of course, Islamic feminist do not wish to be termed as “feminist” they simply want to be Muslims, fight for gender equality, which is the spirit of the Quran. The change that Muslim women are trying bring about by emphasizing on parts of the Quran that explicitly vouch for the equal rights of women can be compared to the change that occurred when Christians began reading the Bible directly. Critics may argue that Muslim feminist are using the Quran in their favor, but considering the extreme patriarchal Arab culture, this is the only way that Muslim “men and women have equal rights and education,” as Dr. Yacoobi says.
2). As Dr. Yaccobi says, education is not only central to liberating Afghan women, but is also central to liberating the Afghan men from their dominant patriarchal beliefs and cultures. According to Dr. Yacoobi, educating not the Afghan women but also men, has made it possible for Afghan women to become far more involved in the Afghan society than they were “80 years ago.” As Dr. Yacoobi says, the educated Muslim women in Afghanistan are now able to vote, find work, and even become social entrepreneurs. Moreover, educating the Afghan men has also played its part in granting the women the opportunity to be educated. Of course, as mentioned above, employing the Quran has proven helpful in showing the men that Muslim women have the right to be educated. Afghan men are finally realizing the significance of education and are allowing women in their families to get educated. So it is quite apparent that if the provision of this kind of quality education continues, soon the Afghan women will indeed be liberated.
References
Abu-Lughod, L. (n.d.). The muslim woman: The power of images and the danger of pity. Retrieved from http://www.eurozine.com/articles/2006-09-01-abulughod-en.html
Islamic feminists transforming middle east. (2010, Apr 27). Retrieved from http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=126309699
