Comments on: Feminism at the Saudi Conference http://www.butterfliesandwheels.org/2008/feminism-at-the-saudi-conference/ Fighting fashionable nonsense Wed, 22 May 2013 23:01:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: KB Player http://www.butterfliesandwheels.org/2008/feminism-at-the-saudi-conference/#comment-33962 KB Player Tue, 22 Jul 2008 00:59:59 +0000 http://www.butterfliesandwheels.org/?p=16531#comment-33962 Y'know, I like feeling dignified, and I feel most dignified when I a) vote; b) sort out my financial affairs; c) open the door to my own flat; d) call up one my male friends and suggest a drink or cycle. All which things the patriarchy tried to prevent my kind doing in the past, the clerical patriarchy being the worst offenders. Y’know, I like feeling dignified, and I feel most dignified when I a) vote; b) sort out my financial affairs; c) open the door to my own flat; d) call up one my male friends and suggest a drink or cycle. All which things the patriarchy tried to prevent my kind doing in the past, the clerical patriarchy being the worst offenders.

]]> By: Eric MacDonald http://www.butterfliesandwheels.org/2008/feminism-at-the-saudi-conference/#comment-33961 Eric MacDonald Mon, 21 Jul 2008 17:29:17 +0000 http://www.butterfliesandwheels.org/?p=16531#comment-33961 Yes, it's a joke. The truth of the matter is, what restoring the dignity of women means in that context is: (i) putting them back into modest clothing, preferably showing no skin at all; (ii) making sure that women are accompanied everywhere they go by men who are related appropriately to them, so that other men cannot abuse them; (iii) treat them with respect in those contexts, and abusing them (appropriately) in others.<br /> <br /> There is one problem though. Even when women are covered from head to toe with black or even white cloth, men know what's under there, and can think lewd thoughts. Perhaps religions could treat women like real people, not just as possible sexual objects, and then, perhaps, respect for women's dignity would just happen, all on its own. It's surprising what a different conceptual frame can do. Yes, it’s a joke. The truth of the matter is, what restoring the dignity of women means in that context is: (i) putting them back into modest clothing, preferably showing no skin at all; (ii) making sure that women are accompanied everywhere they go by men who are related appropriately to them, so that other men cannot abuse them; (iii) treat them with respect in those contexts, and abusing them (appropriately) in others.

There is one problem though. Even when women are covered from head to toe with black or even white cloth, men know what’s under there, and can think lewd thoughts. Perhaps religions could treat women like real people, not just as possible sexual objects, and then, perhaps, respect for women’s dignity would just happen, all on its own. It’s surprising what a different conceptual frame can do.

]]> By: John Morales http://www.butterfliesandwheels.org/2008/feminism-at-the-saudi-conference/#comment-33960 John Morales Mon, 21 Jul 2008 12:19:24 +0000 http://www.butterfliesandwheels.org/?p=16531#comment-33960 Yeah, that was the one thing that struck me: "Eve was born from Adam"<br /> <br /> Sigh. Yeah, that was the one thing that struck me: “Eve was born from Adam”

Sigh.

]]> By: Arnaud http://www.butterfliesandwheels.org/2008/feminism-at-the-saudi-conference/#comment-33959 Arnaud Mon, 21 Jul 2008 12:08:25 +0000 http://www.butterfliesandwheels.org/?p=16531#comment-33959 As OB said, "Eve was born from Adam" has been used for thousands of years to justify the subornation of women. <br /> And every man ever since has been born from a woman, but we don't hear much about that, do we? As OB said, “Eve was born from Adam” has been used for thousands of years to justify the subornation of women.

And every man ever since has been born from a woman, but we don’t hear much about that, do we?

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