Mernissi/Scheherazade Goes West - Page 2

Marya · 06-11-2008, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by da Sage

I also read this book, but I don't remember much. What I remember is that the idea that women in the East have more freedom, in that they don't have to prove their womanliness all the time, society already defines that pretty strictly...so whatever speech or action they engage in is "neutral"...whereas women in the West must constantly fit a stricter ideal, their womanliness is required, yet not a "given", and so their speech and actions are alway gender-weighted.

I must say, I didn't entirely buy the Eastern-women-are-freer part - that argument runs well, but IMO it only runs so far. But I do buy most of the Western-women-are-invisibly-confined-and-restricted part. I agreed with many of her criticisms of Western society.

Gotta read that book again when I have time, so I can discuss it intelligently.

I haven't read the book, but as an old fashioned feminist who never (even as a child) bought into the Western Feminine Ideal I couldn't resist responding.

Within the US there are distinct cultural differences in society's overlay of expectations. Here in the rural, western US where I live, women are not expected to be helpless, in fact they are roundly criticized if they are not able to take care of themselves (unless there is a good reason like being hurt or too old, then the community provides them help). Beauty and youth is distinct from skill and always appreciated by men and women but not a strict requirement.

There are male domains of course, but there have always been women who were exceptions to any rule and who did as they damn well pleased. That is why I live here in NE Oregon, Women who break the rules are numerous.

It is always risky to generalize a culture or a country. I read a lot of feminist literature when I was younger and sometimes I just couldn't relate to the issues that were discussed because my own experience was so different.

Marya