Social Politics

[richlevy]

KABUL, Afghanistan (news - web sites) — For Afghan women, going out still usually involves little more than throwing on a burka before leaving the house. But two American "beauticians without borders" are introducing Afghans to Western-style ideas of womanhood by teaching them the finer points of applying lipstick.

This article is Opening Afghan Eyes With Mascara and Beauty Classes

At first glance this sounds like the most ridiculous expression of cultural exchange in world history. At second glance it still looks pretty stupid. However, if you look into the story, it touches on small business ownership by women. Also, beauty parlors offer safe gathering places for women to socialize away from the influence of husbands or male family members.

So, is this trend a positive step in feminism in Afghanistan or a step backward?

[jaguar]

Big step forward if you ask me.

I would say that it is a step side-ways. It is my understanding that women in the wealthier Moslem countries (Saudi Arabia, Kuwait) already wear make-up behind all those veils. Have Saudi women become any more liberated as a result? To most Westeners it would appear not. I suppose an ardent feminist might argue that make-up is just one more way in which women turn themselves into "objects" blah, blah, blah. Such an argument would be completely beside the point, in my opinion.

Also, these are AMERICAN women who are selling the products. Well, are they selling Mary Kay or some similar line that encourages women to go into selling it themselves? If not, I'd say that this represented no great stride forward for Afgani women. So they wear make-up under their veils - they're still wearing veils. They still can't work outside their homes or run a business or a drive a car.

[warch]

Teach them to read the labels.

[richlevy]

Originally posted by marichiko
They still can't work outside their homes or run a business or a drive a car.

I think the point of the article is that they will be opening their own businesses.

Originally posted by richlevy


I think the point of the article is that they will be opening their own businesses.

If that's the case, then yes, I would say they are taking a step forward. There's nothing like self-sufficiency to make a girl's eyes shine. Mascara has nothing on it.

[Torrere]

By contrast, Christian women in Iraq now keep their heads covered in cloth so that they are not singled out for violating Islamic law by gangs of militant Muslims.

Summing up the situation, one Christian merchant told an AP reporter, "No one can say things under Saddam Hussein were good in Iraq, but now with the situation we are in now, we look back on them as perfect."

[Skunks]

It's sort of funny to think that, to progress towards "equality", they have to pass through the state of oppression we're at today.

Equating lipstick with liberation sounds like asking for a feminazi-type to chew your ear off.

[DanaC]

Actually women in Afghanistan can drive cars ( unless theyre in the rural mountain regions in which case there is a strong possibility their menfolk may object :P)

There were many raised eyebrows for the first ones who drove about after the fall of the taliban and they were brave to do it but its a less and less unusual sight in the cities.

*Smiles* really the main difference between male drivers and female drivers in Afghanistan is that the men can usually bribe the offical into giving them a licence without taking the test whilst women really do have to pass their test.....which they seemingly have gotten rather good at since well over half of those that take it pass first time Whilst at last count 95 per cent of the men driving in Afghanistan hadnt taken the test

As to the benefits of make up and small business ownership......Really women in Afghanistan need only one thing in order to gain some measure of independance and that is a state which is secure enough and peaceful enough and for long enough for them to be able to feel secure. What with the Mujahadin(sp) and the Warlords the Taliban and the rest these women have long since learned the safest possible policy is to stay beneath the burka. I am a feminist but if the region I lived in was as unstable and likely to result in rape or attack as Afghanistan was before the Taliban or as repressed and ;likely to result in reprisals as Afghanistan under the taliban, I would feel safer under the burka.

As one woman in Afghanistan said recently to a journalist , " Give me security and I will take off the burka"

What they dont need is a bunch of westerners with our own ideas of liberalism and feminism goin over there and stirring up resentments in the more conservative elements of society as we basically confirm everything they feared about our unsavoury influence.

[richlevy]

Originally posted by DanaC
;likely to result in reprisals as Afghanistan under the taliban, I would feel safer under the burka.

Of course, you can pack a whole lot of firepower under one of those things and not have to worry about being searched by male policemen.

If you made Wolf wear one, she'd probably carry an RPG.

[DanaC]

Hahahahah. Now come on that was just a blatant excuse to use the guntoting smilie in an amusing context!

[xoxoxoBruce]

Naw, we don't need no stinkin' excuses.

[Elspode]

Originally posted by richlevy
If you made Wolf wear one, she'd probably carry an RPG.

I thought *everyone* carried an RPG over there...?

Originally posted by Elspode


I thought *everyone* carried an RPG over there...?

I thought everyone carried one HERE. Maybe I shouldn't let on about mine?

[wolf]

Originally posted by richlevy
If you made Wolf wear one, she'd probably carry an RPG.

More likely two handguns, a sawed off shotgun, and plenty of extra ammo. (Why do you think I carry a purse?)