Thursday, February 15, 2007
Wives or Pets?
"Islam allowed a man to have up to four wives, but marrying more than one was frowned on by the younger generation And though technically a husband could divorce a wife by saying "I divorce thee" three times, but this too was discouraged, unless the wife was barren."(p.57)The Islam men said its frowned apon to have more than one wife and to divorce here when they please but they still have four wives. It almost seems as if to them wives are like pets, you love them but you can get rid of them when you please and can have more than one. The younger generation frowns apon this but in ten years will it actually change? Probably not because it's a part of their culture. Wives can be even gambled off like they are of no need to the men of course because they probably have three more. Woman also have to cover themselves head to toe when out in public and they have a certain way they must conduct themselves out on the streets. Once again they are like pets, they are like on a leash by their husbands telling them how they must conduct themselves. "Women must be protected and cared for because they are controlled by emotions."(p.57) All humans whether man or woman have emotions but this is saying woman because their emotions controll them but have a man to protect and care for them. Woman in this culture are said to be unfit to live on their own. The women are the men's pets, they are owned. -ak
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9 comments:
Abby, I understand where your coming from by saying that women are like pets in these kinds of cultures, and I am not going to disagree with you. However, I somewhat got the impression that you think that woman should have equal rights and have the same privileges and restrictions as men. However in the vulnerable, testy condition of these dangerous countries now a days I feel as though a woman is better off being under a man's thumb. Although she may not be loved to the same extent as a man, for example, in the united states, loves his wife, however when women in these countries are left to roam and fend for themselves they will undoubtedly get raped, attacked, robbed and otherwise assaulted. I agree with the fact that it would be nice to see some sexual equality but at this point in time in these countries it would be safer for a woman to have less attention and be safe than a woman to be completely free and have to suffer through constant assault. PWND A.M.
Unfortunately, it is their culture. You may not agree with it, I don't either, but here is a major issue that I have with arguing against it. People become so against the idea of americans interfering with foreign affairs. Such as entering iraq, or in general our imperialistic tendencies. But if one argues americas political motives, how can one become an activist to promote the american lifestyle. i.e. equal gender treatment? PWN NBD MW
AM, I am not sure if you took the right approach to what you are trying to say. I can totally where you are going in your comment but it really seems to be slightly incorrect saying that women would undoubtable get raped. Obviously women would not gain the rights of a man without a drastic change in government so I would assume that there would be a change in areas such as law enforcement, education, infrastructure...So im not so sure that you want to be saying that women will undoubtedly get raped, attacked, robbed or assaulted. While that is definetly a possibility, it is most likely much much much much more of a problem now than if it was agianst the law to do so. And where I see where you are coming from, it is the promotion of American ideals in the middle east that is taking place right now, that will hopefull change that in time. Who knows how long but hopefully that will change. Im not putting my personal beliefs on the war on terror but maybe out of all the terrible things people find in it, there is some good. The reformation of law there could very possibly be one of those things. Pwnage M.A.D.
I like the Analogy you made between pets and wives. It’s totally true! I don’t think its fair for men to treat them like that and for them to have to hide themselves while in front of people, when at the same time men are allowed to share their feelings. It is weird to think about how different “marriage” is in the Middle East compared to the US. When they say they have four wives, it would be a sin here to. Even though the Middle East definitely doesn’t have a better lifestyle than us, I think it is better for men to be straightforward with their wives by telling them that they have feelings towards other women as well. When wives in the US find out their husband is having an affair with another women they go insane and are usually totally heartbroken, but in the Middle East it sounds as though there is none of that “cheating” stuff, because their wives are familiar with the other women he is involved with. -rb
AK, I do agree that women in the Middle East are not treated fairly in the least. For a husband to "get rid of" his wife (wives) whenever he pleases is simply wrong. Isn't marriage supposed to be about falling in love with only one person? I do believe, however, that most women in general are controlled by their emotions. AK, when you stated "..but have a man to protect and care for them.", it seems as if in reality, the men niether truly protect nor care for them to a big enough extent. Women, who have as much potential as men, should definitely be allowed to "unleash" themselves a bit. -a.v.
AK, I completely agree with your comparison to the women in the Middle East being treated as pets. They are not given any freedom, and it upsets me to think that they are treated as inferior. I completely disagree with AM in the sense that the women are “better off under a man’s thumb” because of the “testy condition of these dangerous countries.” I agree that these countries are unsafe, but the reason they are more dangerous for women is because of the laws they have, or lack of laws they have to protect women. I also feel AM has no grounds to say that it would be better for a women to have less attention and be safe than a woman to be completely free and have to suffer. I feel AM is underestimating the word freedom and what it truly symbolizes. Many wars have been fought in order to obtain freedom or be free, and I do not think that this case is any different. I can not say that the women over there would be willing to risk their lives for their freedom, but I also know that AM cannot say the opposite. Freedom is something that here in the United States we take for granted. The fact that these women cannot dress, speak, or act the way they want is the equivalent to being trapped. Personally, I have been lucky enough to never experience any of the above but if I were in these conditions I would be willing to do anything to liberate myself. Although I say that now knowing that this could never happen to me, the facts show that women and people in general in the past have done it. It is not a crazy thought. African Americans fought for years and many died standing up for what they believed in; equality. Women here in the United States fought for equality and stood their ground against those who disagreed. I cannot know for sure what exactly the women in the Middle East are willing to do, or to what extremes but it is narrow minded for you to say that it would be safer for them and therefore better for them to remain as pets.
MLD
MD, You get the idea that I would not like to see some change in women's rights, which is just silly. I would like nothing more than to see some equality. However, all I was saying is that there are two choices (it seems like) that a woman can follow in the middle east, 1: they can be married to and protected by a man that will not her, well not nearly as much as option 2: she can roam the streets and have a much greater risk of being mugged, jumped, raped, etc. Now what would you chose? Would rather be raped, totally uncared for and not have a place to sleep at night? OR be a little less cared for (compared to America's standards) BUT still be protected? I think you get the idea I am implying that I want woman to stay like this forever, which like I said would surely be "narrow minded" if you will, but I am not. All I am saying is that if I were a middle eastern woman, I would much rather be less cared for but protected than be forced to walk the streets alone and get jumped. AM
At this time, women could not be given indepent rights in this part of the world. As we have seen in the Road to 9/11, bringign about a drastic change in culture caused an uproar, and women rights would even be more surpresse. This subject needs to be delt with through time, not through force.
ASM
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