Blogging against sexism
Today is international women's day and, not coincidentally, blog against sexism day. I've been thinking about making a post outlining my position on various feminist issues, but haven't really executed the plan. Since I'm short on time, I'd like to just take a minute to briefly explain the way I feel about some issues. To keep things brief and clear, I've created a table to describe my thoughts. I've covered only six topics. Obviously, there are many more. Please feel free to share your opinions, especially about prostitution and pornography, as I am very conflicted over those. At the same time, you should know that nothing will change my opinions on the ERA, Abortion, or same-sex marriages. Happy International Women's Day!
|
Issue |
Political Stance |
Personal Belief |
|
Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) to the Constitution of the United States of America |
I fully believe in and support the ERA. Until this country acknowledges that women are a fundamental part of American society by including them in the binding and legal document which upholds the republic, women (and men) will not be protected against sexism. |
All women and men are created equal. All women and men will be held accountable for their own actions on Judgment Day. |
|
Abortion |
Abortion is a public health issue. Abortion must be completely legal in every state. All women must have access to a variety of birth control methods, and these birth control methods must be affordable to every woman. Likewise, more research must be conducted on hormonal birth control for men. However, until women have absolute autonomy over their bodies, reproduction, and sexuality, women will suffer. Men should never dictate to women how, when or where they produce offspring. There should be no spouse- or parental-notification laws. |
Speaking strictly from a moral perspective, abortion is wrong. The Qur’an specifically prohibits feticide and infanticide. I acknowledge that religion and spirituality play a major role in many women’s sexuality and reproduction, and should not be ignored. However, these beliefs vary from woman to woman, and therefore cannot be dictated to society by a State. In my ideal world, all women and men would have access to birth control and would use it as they deem appropriate. Few women would have the need to seek abortions. |
|
Same-sex marriages |
All persons should be able to marry their partner of choice, as long as that partner is capable of making and expressing his or her commitment. This also means that persons seeking marriage must be of legal age. The State must acknowledge these unions and grant the persons involved the same privileges and rights that heterosexual unions receive under the law. Religious institutions do not need to endorse or approve of same-sex marriages. |
I do not believe that Islam prohibits same-sex relations, nor do I believe that Muslims are required to denounce same-sex relations as unholy and sinful. All people have a right to believe, or not to believe, in whatever religion they choose. For more information on Islam and same-sex relations please visit the following web sources. |
|
Modest Dress |
All women have a fundamental right to wear or not to wear whatever they want. No State should dictate to women how to dress or what to cover. Both the French and Turkish ban on the headscarf violate women’s rights, as well as laws, such as in Iran and Saudi Arabia, which force women to cover themselves. Covering is a choice. |
Covering is a choice. I do not however, believe that the full face veil, or niqab, is an Islamic practice, nor is the burqa. I prefer to dress modestly, but I do not always cover my hair. |
|
Prostitution |
Prostitution is a public health issue. Legalizing prostitution and regulating it would be a better way to keep women safe. It would also cull human trafficking. |
I absolutely, 100% detest and despise prostitution. This does not mean I feel any hatred towards women who sell themselves. On the contrary, I am saddened and enraged that women must resort to prostitution to feed themselves and their children. I am horrified and infuriated that men (fathers, brothers, husbands, uncles, cousins) sometimes force women into prostitution to make money. I am sickened at the thought that very young girls are sometimes sold to brothels, so that their family can have more money. |
|
Pornography |
Pornography is a public health issue. It should not be banned, as it is a form of expression. However, it should be regulated. Porn stars should wear condoms. Violent pornography (“snuff”) should remain illegal. |
The vast majority of pornography is denigrating to women. I find it disgusting. Humans should embrace their sexuality, but that doesn’t mean they should take advantage of anyone sexually. |
Comments
Because people are different due to genetics and upbringing the state has no right to coerce behavior except in cases where that behavior affects the long term well being of others so your division of ethics into what the state should enforce and your personal beliefs are "right on"!
In regards to porn and the sex worker industry some women find it empowering. Not all women see themselves as victims although victimization seems to have been the dominant pattern in the past. So as long as the women involved have choices the decison is up to them. But sex can become obsesive, an addicition, like drugs and gamblling leading to self destruction, so some sort of regulation is needed.
Your section on abortion had a few niggle botherations for me. Birth control is a human right, I think, not just a woman's right, and I probably have this reinforced distinction appear in my head after reading this section from my own negative experience among feminist web-relations, so I apologize in advance if that is not at all what you intended to convey.
"Men should never dictate to women how, when or where they produce offspring." Men are integral to the process of procreation, so I think they have as much right and responsibility to their offspring as a woman does. That doens't sit well in today's politics, but that's what I view as fair and really equal. I don't believe you intended to go in that direction with this statement, I'm rather sure you meant that men cannot dictate to women when they will procreate, or when they will not. But some current laws and legal situations today, in the U.S., give far too much power over children into the hands of would-be-mothers, at the expense of natural rights and responsibilities of would-be-fathers. Just something to consider (perhaps not on a day devoted to women..)
Also, hormone-manipulation is not necessarily the best way to go about it. I agree though that there should be multiple options to meet the desires of every person. Personally I support research into long-term fully-reversible sterilization procedures that don't mess around with hormone levels.
But really, great post. Thank you for the inspiring read.
Personally, I despise hormonal birth control. But Many women love it, and it is not readily available or affordable to the majority of women in the US. Neither are IUDs. I agree, a fantastic method would be temporary sterilization, but I also think it is unfair that women have so much of the burden on birth control. There should be more options available for men, including hormonal methods and temporary sterilization methods.
But actually, I didn't want to go deeply into these subjects.
You know, I know that some women find prostitution and pornography empowering. But I still think it's sad that we live in a world where women are empowered by selling there bodies. The same applies to the burqa. I know a friend who grew up in Pakistan. He was very close friends with a girl, his neighbor, who was a few years older than him. When she went on to university, he didn't see her as frequently, and I believe she moved. Well, one day he was taking a bus somewhere and while he was between bus"es, waiting a stop, he heard someone call his name. He was looking around for someone he recognized when suddenly a shapeless figure in a burqa came up to him and said, "It's me!" He then realized it was his friend, who was veyr well educated and smart, and she was wearing a burqa! He was surprised and didn't know what to think.
Later she went to visit her parents, and she and he talked. She explained that when she goes to university she wears the burqa because she has to walk through neighborhoods that make her feel uncomfortable. In the burqa, she is invisible. She is empowered because by donning a simple fabric she is able to carry-on her life and get an education. Somewhat funny isn't it. Wearing a burqa to go to university. Sure, it's great that this woman is wearing a burqa so she can get her education, but why can't she simply walk down the street without men ogling her? Why does she have to become invisible in order to feel safe and empowered?
Feeling empowered by becoming a porn star or a prostitute is the same concept, just on the other end of hypersexualization. This is why I am conflicted over it. I also think that the jobs are dirty and extremely unhealthy, and I would be thrilled if the whole sex industry disappeared (except for the toy stores-- those are ok). It's not that I think sex is dirty (because I don't), it's that I think, in general, society should treat bodies with more respect.
On the issue of modest dressing, I totally agree that it is a matter of personal preference, regardless of religion. There are plenty of Muslim women who are not forced to wear the hijab, or burqa or even a headscarf.
My mom is one of them.
On prostitution and pornography, I guess we are of the same mind. I do not support it, but at the same time, I have no problem with those who love it, or those who practice it.
About same-sex relations: the story usually used to prohibit same-sex relations is the story of Lut. I, as well as many other progressive Muslims, interpret the story to be about rape and abandonment of wives, and a society turned upside down because of it. To be honest, I respect that some people find same-sex relations immoral, but I also think those people should have enough respect for others to keep their nose out of other people's business. What upsets me is not disagreement, but preaching hate. Besides, in the end, each individual will have to face God, not a Nation-state, or a self-righteous believer. So if my interpretation is wrong, then I (hope) am ready to deal with the consequences of it inshallah.
On the headscarf.. I think most women who cover do it of their own volition, and are not forced to do so. The overly simplistic (Western) view of women who wear hijab as victims of coercion irritates me. When hijab is done by choice (as it often is), it is beautiful.
Thanks for the comment :)
Megan,
I love everything you've said here in the post and comments. I dig how it seems I have come to similar conclusions via a different path.
Abortion: I see Roxanne's point and would totally agree with her if science were at a point where a fetus could develop outside of a woman's womb. But as it is, I believe it's the woman's call. Of course, I think communication is key. Both parties should state "what if's" before sex even occurs, no matter the contraception used because nothing short of sterilization is 100%. But even still, if a woman gets pregnant and changes her mind, that's her right because it's her body. Forced pregnancy should not be considered an option and neither should forced termination. This gets hairy when child support is raised. Man and woman have consentual sex. Woman gets pregnant and decides she wants to go through with the pregnancy. Is the man responsible for helping raise it? Man, I wish we had more options available to women - government assistance for mothers in this country... something that made a difference.
The modest dress/prostitution/porn elements are tied in so beautifully in your comments. I don't know that I have anything original to add. The only stand I can seem to find in the porn/prostitution area is I just wish we lived in a society where women didn't need that "choice". The idea that selling your very body is empowering is total bullcrap, IMO. The sex industry has permeated nearly every facet of life in the states and I don't see how women will approach equality in this environment. Woman as object at all times. I don't know what to actually do about it though. Legalize? Censor? I don't think censoring is the way to go, really. These issues make my heart ache.
Laura, Thanks for the comment! You said:
I know exactly what you mean: legalize it or censor it? Because actually, if you think about it, legalized prostitution is just state-endorsed prostitution. Instead of individual men making profits off of abusing women's bodies, the Government is-- after all, it would be taxed. And really, if things continue in the direction we are going now, then the Government regulating prostitution is just shifting the power from individual men to a group of mostly men. What's the difference? How are women any safer? I mean, from a public health perspective, the difference is huge, because the women could get health insurance, regular tests for STDs. They could demand that clients use condoms, and probably violence against prostitutes would decrease a little. But when we look at it in terms of power, the power isn't really being shifted from pimps to to women.
This issues make my heart ache, too.