Short reflection essay about "Do Muslim Women Really Need Saving? by LILA ABU-LUGHOD

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Do Muslim Women Really Need Saving? Anthropological Reflections on Cultural Relativism and Its Others Al-Zoubi, AbdelRahman International University of Catalunya Paper on the Gender Equity in the Urban, Dr Apen

Short reflection essay about "Do Muslim Women Really Need Saving? Anthropological Reflections on Cultural Relativism and Its Others." by LILA ABU-LUGHOD. 1. Major claims & Significance: The author trying to emphasis and spot the light on the idea of cultural differences and how it has been misunderstood from the western discourse toward westernizing the under developing societies (I.e. Afghanistan), and how that is disrespecting the spatial culture of the people. Also, it argues about the contemporary colonialization in interfering with the "Others". I think such claims are very important for an anthropology point of view, because it offer a frame to analyze the issue of gender, mainly women in a society where religion and social traditions constructed for many years. In addition to that, the concept of helping those countries to get developed through colonialism, was significant to the readers, so it shows the impact of war and development on gender aspect of the Afghani society. 2. Important concept: "portable seclusion": I understand it as a social way of the women in specific regions (I.e. Afghanistan) to adopt to the social regime and structure of power, by creating a solution for her protection, at the same time being social and active in the daily life where masculinity took the big role. 3. Notable quotation: "As Laura Bush said, "Because of our recent military gains in much of Afghanistan, women are no longer imprisoned in their homes, They can listen to music and teach their daughters without fear of punishment, The fight against terrorism is also a fight for the rights and dignity of women" (U.S. Government 2002)" Abu Lughod, Pg 784, Para 5. I found this provocative sentence frustrating to me, which implies more than saying that women need to listen to music, and go out of their homes... As I perceive it, Laura connected the victory of the US Army over Taliban in Afghani lands with the social responsibility and community development mainly women empowerment (as she claim AL-ZOUBI, ABDELRAHMAN

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