According to Wikipedia a manifesto is "a public declaration of principles and intentions..." For this blog assignment write a personal manifesto on your feminism. Consider and make reference to at least two research sources to develop an opening statement. This preamble is your personal belief statement about feminism. Following the paragraph you will create a list of your main feminist principles to live by.
Try to keep your post between 300-500 words, but length isn't as important as the quality of thinking and writing. Post your blog as a New Post on this Home page. You will then be able to comment on others' posts directly under each.
For more information and examples, go to:
http://e.piphanies.com/manifesto.php
http://curriculumreform.org/curriculum-reform-manifesto/
My Voice… part 1
ReplyDeleteI belong to an Iraqi family who spend their life travelling from one country to another. I was born in Tehran, raised in Algeria and Lebanon and moved to Canada in 2002. My life as a young woman travelling from one country to another and mingling with different people and cultures was not an easy one. I came to Canada carrying with me many perplexed ideas about the status of women in my religion and culture. At a very young age I used to sit down with my mother and her women friends enjoying Turkish tea and oriental desserts and chatting about their lives with their husbands and families. I was a very good listener and an observer. I heard many complaints about their husbands and the way they are being treated but they were afraid to share their complaints with outside world. Talking about marital rape, sexual and domestic violence was considered a taboo in my culture and very few women are willing to share their experiences with others. Nowadays when I compare my readings from women’s studies classes and what I used to hear in my mother’s living room I pause for a minute and think that what I used to hear from all these women is compatible with feminism and feminists’ perspective, yet they don’t feel comfortable to claim it. It struck me that many of the women whom I met could be considered feminists, perhaps not by the standards of the white western feminism that I had encountered in my feminist theory class, but by the standards of a different feminism; one that allowed women to retain their culture, to have pride in their traditions and to still vocalize the gender issues of their community. These were women whom I considered feminists because they believed in the dignity and potential for upward mobility of every woman, they wanted to erase class lines between women; they worked so that they could have choices in their lives and not be channeled into one of life.
Muslim women, and particularly Middle Eastern and North African women, have been among the most enduring subjects of discussion in the western media for the past two centuries. Without doubt I can also assert that the issue of the veil and the oppression of Muslim Women have been the most frequent topics of discussion I have been engaged in, often reluctantly, during some 10 years of my life in Canada. Whenever I meet a person of white/European descent, I regularly find that as soon as he/she ascertains that I am Muslim/Middle Eastern/Iraqi, the veil very quickly emerges as the prominent topic of conversation. This scenario occurs everywhere, in trains, the grocery store, the Laundromat, on the university campus, or at a party. The range of knowledge of these eager conversant varies: some honestly confess total ignorance of Islam and Islamic culture or Middle East societies; others base their claims and opinions on their experiences in colonial armies in the Middle East, or on their travels through the Middle East to India during the 1960s; still others cite films or novels as their reference.
Sherene Razack’s argues in Looking White People in the Eye that western feminist believe that minority cultures are more patriarchal and backward than the western liberal cultures (Razack, 1998). She suggests that the western feminist assume that women in minority communities require liberation into the progressive social customs of the west (Razack, 1998). The idea that the “other” women are subjected to extreme patriarchy is developed in relation to the vision of western women as secular, liberated and in total control of their lives. Razack states that “both feminist and non-feminist scholars have actively participated in reproducing the binary of the
part 2
ReplyDeletecivilized and liberated Western and her oppressed Third World sister”( Razack, 1998). The binary discourse is based on the idea that the West has values and modernity and the non-West has culture and backwardness, this conceptual framework is described as “clash of civilization”. Modernity was constructed as corrective to tradition and the status of women was considered a litmus test of modernity and civilization. In other words, “the veil, images of FGM and stories of Third World men’s brutality” are used by the West as the justification for colonialism and military invasion. Western feminist have also used the alleged “backwardness” of foreign culture to validate their agenda for improvements in the status of minority and oppressed women (Razack, 1998). Western feminist believe that they are the saviors of Eastern Women who are envisaged as ignorant, passive and uncivilized. The West sees a veiled woman, as a victim of her patriarchal culture or religion (Mernissi, Fatima). These evidences play a major role in shaping the western mentality towards the eastern culture specifically towards the eastern Muslim women. Usually veil and niqab are seen as tools that are forced by the patriarchal society on the eastern women. The dominant discourse suggests that these women (Muslim women) don’t have the right to CHOOSE to wear the veil or the niqab yet, it is imposed on them.
I am in my final year of study in Women’s Studies program, and I just realized more than ever that I longed for a feminism that would express who I was and what my experiences were as an Arab- Canadian woman. That feminism was within my grasp, but I discerned several obstacles that blocked my path. The chief one was the seeming universality of white western feminism which appears to leave no room for other visions. I have to admit that finally I realized my own version of feminism, I found myself better able to understand white western feminism and the many outer storms and internal divisions it has had to weather. I see the need for a cross cultural feminist dialogue, especially after September 11 attacks in the United States, which have led to an overthrow of Taliban and an intensified interest on the part of West to understand Islam in general. As that interest expands to include the issues of Muslim women and Arab women, it should be clarified that any resulting dialogues must be inclusive of Arab voices in order to be successful. I think it should no longer be possible to write about Arab women with any aura of expertise or authority without first knowing what Arab and Muslim women need and want.
Sherene Razack, Looking White People in the Eye: Gender, race and Culture in Courtrooms and Classrooms (Toronto:University of Toronto Press, 1998), 6-7, 171.
Mernissi, Fatima. The Veil and Male Elite: a Feminist Interpretation of Women's Rights in Islam. Readings (Mass.) [etc.: Addison-Wesley, 1991.
Justice, Equality and Freedom for All……
ReplyDeleteAlthough I do consider myself a feminist, I will first admit that my feminism is not yet complete. Before entering this University and even knowing that a women’s studies program existed, I was ignorant about feminism and the many things it stood for. MY feminism revolves around Justice and Freedom. These are some of the most important things to me in life. I believe that justice, equality, freedom, health and dignity are basic human rights for everyone around the world, especially women. As a feminist I believe that every woman in the world should have justice, equality and freedom. Coming from a Middle Eastern and Muslim background I can never ignore the history and struggles that people in the Middle Eastern countries have gone through and are still going through today.
Women especially, have paid a high price for wars and injustices that occur frequently in countries such as Lebanon, Iraq, Palestine, Afghanistan, and even many countries in many parts of Africa such as Sudan, Congo and etc. Living in the “peaceful” West we often forget about the struggles and challenges that these people,and women specifically are living through. I have been inspired by the feminist works of a fellow student, Hiba Mehdi who introduced me to her organization in 2009 called Women for Change, an organization that helps women in war torn regions lead better lives through moral and material support. Women that have faced, and still are facing rape, famine, displacement, and death do not receive enough attention and help. I have also been influenced by Hartsock’s expression about the standpoint theory, to understand that each individual’s experiences lead to their standpoint, a standpoint that must be respected and valued. Finally the works of Lila Abu-Lughod and Edward Said on Orientalism and Middle Eastern issues have had a major influence on me ever since I have been introduced to them.
Manifesto
First, work on myself. Be healthy, happy and comfortable with myself. I will do this, through exercise, healthy diet/habits and proper time management. In order to help others you must help yourself first. Be capable and prepared.
Keep informed about issues that are going on all over the world, read the paper rather than watch an hour of television. Keep up to date. As depressing as wars and injustice can be, as important as it is to have knowledge of what is going on in the world around you.
Listen to other people’s stories; learn, validate and value their experiences. Talk to those who have more experience and have been through wars and have lived through unfortunate events. Talk to women, elder women, younger women, all women.
Understand their perspectives. (I learn more than I can imagine from other women’s experiences, and that is an integral part of my feminism, the one that I am still forming and identifying.)
Spread the word. Speaking up and not being scared of voicing my opinion and knowledge.
Understand differences and value differences rather than being judgemental.
Understand that I have been conditioned to many “norms” that are not really normal. Just because the Western world I live in has led me to believe and live in certain lifestyles, gender norms, patriarchal ideas, misconceptions, injustice and inequalities, it does not mean that I should follow them blindly. Question everything and be critical.
Be more open minded. Keep in mind there are always two sides to the story.
Most importantly believe in me, believe in women, believe in those who have no one to believe in them.
For as long as i can remember, I’ve always had a natural aura for taking care of those around me by any means necessary. My knowledge and experiences has reaffirm the reasons for my subtle addiction to make sure I’ve done what was necessary to either help or to improve the lives of those around me. I think the underlining reason for this is because growing up i never really had much and all i had were the ones around me. Growing up and paying attention to the issues around me, i realized that as much as i didn’t have, there’s many that don’t have what i do have; a healthy support system. Therefore, I’ve always tried my best to be there for my friends and aid them, letting them know that they are not alone in their daily struggles; sometimes all a person needs is to know that they are not alone, and there are people that care about them.
ReplyDeleteMy experiences have allowed me to develop and demonstrate my passion for helping youth in vulnerable situations. I am an individual who is committed to social justice; I aim to make education equitable for all students. I will cater to the unique and diverse youth population and the community in which they live. I am a positive influence that aspires to make positive differences. This stems from my personal belief that youth can be a positive attribute to society once given the right tools. One of my goals is to use education as a medium to reach many different cultural groups within Toronto. I will encourage and educate young minds to be critical learners to challenge their thoughts and create an environment conducive for learning.
When I am finished school, I would eventually establish a multiservice centre for youth in Toronto, in collaboration with specific service providers to grant the youth with resources to excel, a place they can come to for assistance and support; an alternative spot for them to learn and dialogue about issues important to them. The centre will incorporate programs to help the youth, their families and the greater community acquire skills such as job experience, social skills, mentorship, coaching and networking. Growing up I had a place I could go to, to find out information I wasn’t comfortable speaking to my mother about. This place allowed me to become enlightened about issues that I wouldn’t talk about at home. I learnt values and practices that enabled me to get this far, with positive role models to help me to stay focused. It was my safe haven away from home. If I needed anything, I knew I could turn to these supports and find assistance. As a result, I felt at ease knowing I had help, rather than being overwhelmed and stressed about a situation, which allowed me to make the right choices. If I can do the same for others, I know I’ve accomplished what I’ve set out to do.
I’d like to think of myself as a very independent, progressive and ambitious person but sometime the things i see around me causes me to think that that may not be enough, in order to make it, you have to have a unique spark. Well I’m looking for my spark and hope that through this process of searching i will find more than a spark, I’ll find a beam.
For as long as i can remember, I’ve always had a natural aura for taking care of those around me by any means necessary. My knowledge and experiences has reaffirm the reasons for my subtle addiction to make sure I’ve done what was necessary to either help or to improve the lives of those around me. I think the underlining reason for this is because growing up i never really had much and all i had were the ones around me. Growing up and paying attention to the issues around me, i realized that as much as i didn’t have, there’s many that don’t have what i do have; a healthy support system. Therefore, I’ve always tried my best to be there for my friends and aid them, letting them know that they are not alone in their daily struggles; sometimes all a person needs is to know that they are not alone, and there are people that care about them.
ReplyDeleteMy experiences have allowed me to develop and demonstrate my passion for helping youth in vulnerable situations. I am an individual who is committed to social justice; I aim to make education equitable for all students. I will cater to the unique and diverse youth population and the community in which they live. I am a positive influence that aspires to make positive differences. This stems from my personal belief that youth can be a positive attribute to society once given the right tools. One of my goals is to use education as a medium to reach many different cultural groups within Toronto. I will encourage and educate young minds to be critical learners to challenge their thoughts and create an environment conducive for learning.
When I am finished school, I would eventually establish a multiservice centre for youth in Toronto, in collaboration with specific service providers to grant the youth with resources to excel, a place they can come to for assistance and support; an alternative spot for them to learn and dialogue about issues important to them. The centre will incorporate programs to help the youth, their families and the greater community acquire skills such as job experience, social skills, mentorship, coaching and networking. Growing up I had a place I could go to, to find out information I wasn’t comfortable speaking to my mother about. This place allowed me to become enlightened about issues that I wouldn’t talk about at home. I learnt values and practices that enabled me to get this far, with positive role models to help me to stay focused. It was my safe haven away from home. If I needed anything, I knew I could turn to these supports and find assistance. As a result, I felt at ease knowing I had help, rather than being overwhelmed and stressed about a situation, which allowed me to make the right choices. If I can do the same for others, I know I’ve accomplished what I’ve set out to do.
I’d like to think of myself as a very independent, progressive and ambitious person but sometime the things i see around me causes me to think that that may not be enough, in order to make it, you have to have a unique spark. Well i’m looking for my spark and hope that through this process of searching i will find more than a spark, I’ll find a beam.
Hiba, your manifesto was particularly interesting for me as both coming from (as in being born into) western culture, and learning about it in school. I think that it is important that as feminists oriented in the global west that we are aware of the binary you presented in your manifesto. Since I do not learn about this binary on the level that you presented would be effective for creating social change I find your voice extra important as a feminist interested in creating social change beyond the local level. I also found your point about feminist allowing non-western women to carve out their own feminism where their interests are heard, considered and acted upon to be very powerful and important for feminists to read about and understand in this context. I find it troubling the low frequency with which i hear this topic being discusses in women’s studies classrooms and disappointed in the fact that in order to understand tis view point i would have to do outside research. Your manifest challenges me to reconsider my position as a feminist within the western context.
ReplyDeleteComment on Zeinab’s blog:
ReplyDeleteI hear you Zeinab. I had the same struggle before with feminism, it was a battle for me to identify myself as feminist, because feminism was a vague and fuzzy concept that I never encountered in my life. Being in women studies and learning about different feminist voices and concepts inspired me to start or form my own feminism that shape my own identity. I am so glad that Women for Change and my modest work with women survivours have inspired you; as it was absolutely a turning point in my life. I learned feminism from Sudanese woman who walked for 18 years and never slept in one place for more than 5 nights , because couple of times she was kidnapped and became a sexual slave, where she was raped as much as the soldiers want it and she carried their ammunition and their water, and food for them so when she was asked what peace meant to her not war she thought for a second and she said peace means I have toe nails, she did not have toe nails for 18 years when she walked…
Feminism is simple as having a toe nail we need to understand feminism from the toe nails perspective, because at the end of the day this is what we are talking about
Comment on Cassandra’s blog :
ReplyDeleteCassandra I am so inspired by your passion and excitement to change the world and make it a better place. You mentioned important international crises here that we as feminist women and men should stand in solidarity in order to end wars, poverty, racism, etc.. I think change is possible and it can really start with our passion for change and equality. The Egyptian people who are protesting on the streets day and night to change their government can be an ideal example of the change that you talked about. It is very inspiring to see people standing up for themselves and demanding rights.
Having underscored the significance of the Quran and the hadith as primary sources of the Islamic tradition, it is important to point out that through the centuries of Muslim history, these sources have been interpreted only by Muslim men who have arrogated to themselves the task of defining the ontological, theological, sociological and eschatological status of Muslim women. while it is encouraging to know that women such as Khadija and Rabi’a al Basri ( the outstanding women Sufi) figure significantly in early Islam, the fact remains that until the present time the Islamic tradition and Muslim culture remain overwhelmingly patriarchal inhibiting the growth of scholarship among women particularly in the realm of religious thought.
ReplyDeleteI think in the contemporary world where there is an urgent need for Muslim women to engage in a scholarly study of Islam’s primary sources in order to become effective voices in the theological deliberations and discussions on women related issues that are taking place in much of the contemporary Muslim world. Though political activism is necessary in order to combat the onslaught of anti women laws and acts of brutality toward women in a number of present day Muslim societies, it is not sufficient by itself to overturn what has been imposed in the name of Islam. The importance of developing a theology of women in the context of the Islamic tradition as the West has developed “ feminist theology” in the context of Jewish and Christian traditions is paramount today with a view of liberating not only Muslim women, but Muslim men from unjust structures and laws that make a peer relation between men and women impossible.