Freedom and Others

This weeks readings focused on a 21st century controversy: the meanings and perceived symbolism of the female veil or body covering. Before reading the works picked for this week, I had not consciously thought much about the feelings and thoughts that the veil stirred in me as a person emerged in American culture. But, after having time to consciously reflect on my previous knowledge and feelings of and for the veil, I have realized that I was very much consumed and blindsided by the Western's perception of it. However, after the readings and discussions of this weeks class, I have come to understand that the ideas and discussion surrounding the veil, contrary to what our society may suggest, is not monolithic. Instead, there is a much broader and much more fairer thinking and focus in terms of what the veil means and symbolizes. To access this, we must put the people in which the veil is part of personal daily life ahead of the brainwashing and stereotypical construction the media does a good job of doing.

Perhaps the most powerful image in terms of what Westerners think of the veil involves it's connection to Islam. As author Martha Wand pointed out, "Many Westerners believe that, Islam is a monolithic, omnipresent force whose purpose is to lock up women" (Islamic Middle East: Veiled Separations 149). However, when we close our own cultural lens and open our ears to the people who experience female covering day in and day out, we come to understand that this is not the case. Instead, women have immense differences and motivations for wearing the veil, few of which include a feeling of submission. For instance, for some women, the burqua enhances: "...the burqua beautifies in a spiritual sense...Like a jewel, [the burqua] adds to what is already there. No matter how beautiful the woman, it cannot fail to make her even more so." Other women feel that covering themselves is a form of self expression in the sense it shows the importance of their faith and religion. As Gabriel Arkles put it, "Walking in [a] community as an out Muslim was an act of defiance...I loved making that statement" (The Scarf 249). These two reasonings are only two of many motivations of women to wear a body covering. Never the less, by these two examples it is clear that it is quite ignorant to think that a female body covering is an object of submissiveness and oppression, no matter what American culture may push us to believe.

This leads to the question of how American culture, and especially the American media have led us to believe what we do about both the veil, and Middle Eastern people in general. First, we must recognize the role of the public realm. Well respected public leaders of aided to creating the idea that Muslim men and women are "other," or un-normal. For example, Cherie Bush (Former Prime Minister Tony Blair's wife) more than once spoke of the need of the "we" (the west) to help "them" (the women of the Middle East) free a female spirit and give women a voice. In other words, "'We' women in the West are defined in contrast to the oppression that Afghan women suffer," says the book Muslim Women in America.

In addition to public actors, the American media mainly, has especially been powerful in separation Arab and Muslims for the norm. The media loves showing images of women going to the polling stations covered from head to foot in their niquab. By showing these, they, from what I perceive, aim to ask, "Isn't it odd that these female objects are allowed to actually vote?" Another example of the media's influence over our perception of Middle Eastern peoples is their choosing of photographs to represent their Middle Eastern stories. According to Muslim Women in America, conflict in the Middle East stories almost always feature a picture of an Arab males (31). In addition, studys say that when images of Muslim women are featured in news print, the women are almost always in a niquab and are commonly unnamed. This, according to the author, reinforces "the anonymity (and invisibility) attributed by the veil" (31).

For my reflection this week, I chose to make an art piece that related to the controversy to answer the question, "What is freedom?" in the context in which we studied it. On the left hand side is the Afghanistan Miss Universe contender in her bikini who was praised by Westerners for her "free-spirit" and for representing the "new Middle Eastern woman." Also, there is a quote from Mattel, manufacturer and creator of Barbie that, with out saying it, condemns Iraq for their 'active reinforcement in the submissiveness of women'. On the other side, I have reflected on the inside perspective to the Muslim veil that I have gained this week by my spotlighting my favorite quote of the week that was in response to Miss Afghanistan's choice to step out in her bikini, and with this I will leave you with. Have a good weekend! I'll try and bring back some sunshine from California when I come back Sunday!

Habiba Sorabi's quote in case you can't read it from my artwork:

"Appearing naked before a camera or television is not women's freedom but in my opinion is to entertain men."