Long Post 4/21

Bunch’s “Whose Security” was written to shed light on the way that the Afghan’s women’s rights have become an excuse for the war on terror, while the women have not seen many benefits. In fact the war has mainly had an opposite effect on the women’s movement in Afghanistan. While the American Government make more aggressive foreign policy, they are simultaneously ignoring national laws and conventions, which is causing conflict amongst the national women’s rights movement. A movement that was slowly moving toward creating a global awareness is now divided against women of America. There is a sense that America values military above social needs. As well as their own needs above global law. By breaking global law the US is showing counties that regularly break humans right laws that there will be no repercussions. This war became an excuse for the US to become more self-centered and justify its rash moves rather than become a chance to looking to other countries for support and therefore unifying the world. It is important that the women’s movement take the time to take a stance against the treatment that the US is giving to the rest of the world in order to continue the move towards Global citizenship.

Abu-Lughod’s article was focused on America’s obsession with saving the Muslim women and in what ways this could be a more successful campaign. She begins by pointing out the ways that America has become obsessed with learning about the lives and beliefs of Muslim women. They want to hear broad generalizations in order to take a stance that these women are oppressed. By doing this American audience is missing out on a colorful history and gaining an understanding about how things came to be this way. The obsession with the afghan woman seems to center most drastically on the veil or burqa that many women wear. Perhaps this is because it is so different from our culture which values less clothing is better. Abu-Lughod does a good job of describing why in some ways the burqa is a fashion or cultural statement. It tells something about you to the world in the similar way that women in America express themselves through fashion. While she attempts to create an understanding of the burqa she is not in anyway saying that women’s rights in Afghanistan are at an appropriate level. Her point is that we will be able to make more of a difference if we stop focusing on the veil and rather on the serious human rights violations. One of the difficulties with fighting for women’s rights is that in some ways we are joining forces with people that are seen as the enemy. While America is immediately willing to see the women as the victim it is impossible to separate them from their fathers, sons and husbands whose beliefs they likely share. The best way to improve the lives of these women is to try to contribute to their worlds rather than take over and force our ways in a colonialist manner.