Comments on: The Reduction of Iraqi Women’s Rights http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2005/07/25/in-iraq-the-reduction-of-womens-rights/ In defense of the sanctimonious women's studies set. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 13:14:04 +0000 hourly 1 By: aufheben http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2005/07/25/in-iraq-the-reduction-of-womens-rights/#comment-11443 aufheben Tue, 26 Jul 2005 03:19:03 +0000 http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2005/07/25/in-iraq-the-reduction-of-womens-rights/#comment-11443 [...] ng: Deva lays down some thoughts on torture and public opinion Lauren stays on top of the mess being made of things for women’s rights in Iraq [...] [...] ng: Deva lays down some thoughts on torture and public opinion Lauren stays on top of the mess being made of things for women’s rights in Iraq [...]

]]> By: Ryan http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2005/07/25/in-iraq-the-reduction-of-womens-rights/#comment-11436 Ryan Mon, 25 Jul 2005 22:51:35 +0000 http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2005/07/25/in-iraq-the-reduction-of-womens-rights/#comment-11436 Good question, Mandos. What is there to do? I'm just fascinated by the degradation of women's rights in Iraq. This strongly nationalistic citizenry has been transformed by the occupation. And I'm not convinced that Iraq had a strongly patriarchal society as countries heavily influenced by American democracy. Under the Ba'athists, Iraq required equal rights for women. It was a movement defined by Socialism, and a big part of that was abandoning religious teachings concerning gender roles. With that said, the Pentagon, under the direction of the Bush administration really screwed things up for women in Iraq in not appointing women to be half of the initial groups of interim prime ministers. It may sound counterintuitive, but Saddam made progressive strides for Iraqi women that are being tossed aside by giving legitimacy to monsters like SCIRI and the Badir Brigades. These issues are so heavily embedded in the overall issues of the occupation and war. It just seems like it's just more to add to the list of Bush and his partners in crime should be held accountable for the mismanagement of this war. Good question, Mandos. What is there to do?

I’m just fascinated by the degradation of women’s rights in Iraq. This strongly nationalistic citizenry has been transformed by the occupation. And I’m not convinced that Iraq had a strongly patriarchal society as countries heavily influenced by American democracy.

Under the Ba’athists, Iraq required equal rights for women. It was a movement defined by Socialism, and a big part of that was abandoning religious teachings concerning gender roles.

With that said, the Pentagon, under the direction of the Bush administration really screwed things up for women in Iraq in not appointing women to be half of the initial groups of interim prime ministers. It may sound counterintuitive, but Saddam made progressive strides for Iraqi women that are being tossed aside by giving legitimacy to monsters like SCIRI and the Badir Brigades.

These issues are so heavily embedded in the overall issues of the occupation and war. It just seems like it’s just more to add to the list of Bush and his partners in crime should be held accountable for the mismanagement of this war.

]]> By: ms. b. http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2005/07/25/in-iraq-the-reduction-of-womens-rights/#comment-11413 ms. b. Mon, 25 Jul 2005 19:16:51 +0000 http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2005/07/25/in-iraq-the-reduction-of-womens-rights/#comment-11413 Personally, I would (and do) support secular democratic alternatives for Iraq in the shape of union-building and grassroots socialist campaigning; <a href="http://www.iraqunionsolidarity.org/" rel="nofollow">Iraq Union Solidarity</a> Personally, I would (and do) support secular democratic alternatives for Iraq in the shape of union-building and grassroots socialist campaigning; Iraq Union Solidarity

]]> By: Mandos http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2005/07/25/in-iraq-the-reduction-of-womens-rights/#comment-11396 Mandos Mon, 25 Jul 2005 17:56:53 +0000 http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2005/07/25/in-iraq-the-reduction-of-womens-rights/#comment-11396 As I said in the other thread on this subject, what are you going to do? A patriarchal society, given democracy, will do patriarchal things. People who lead opinion will do what they always wanted to do when given the chance. So what are you going to do about it? As I said in the other thread on this subject, what are you going to do? A patriarchal society, given democracy, will do patriarchal things. People who lead opinion will do what they always wanted to do when given the chance. So what are you going to do about it?

]]> By: Ryan http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2005/07/25/in-iraq-the-reduction-of-womens-rights/#comment-11382 Ryan Mon, 25 Jul 2005 16:50:33 +0000 http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2005/07/25/in-iraq-the-reduction-of-womens-rights/#comment-11382 All feminists who are moved by this should be regular readers of "Baghdad Burning". I posted some of my email correspondence with the pseudonymous author Riverbend (a Sunni who was a computer programmer prior to the invasion) in 3 parts at Liberal Avenger. She has described how she received the same pay as her male colleagues. Here is the last one (with the links to the first two): <a href="http://liberalavenger.com/2005/07/conversation-with-riverbend-part-iii.html" rel="nofollow">A Conversation with Riverbend</a> When those against the war speak out about the future of women's rights in Iraq, there is no need to get defensive about being a "Saddam-lover". The fact is that everyone under that dictatorial regime was ruled under an iron fist. It was a fact of life. But when we look at the overall differential between men and women in Iraq, it's a sad state of affairs to realize that women are <i>losing</i> the benefits they once had under a tyrant. All feminists who are moved by this should be regular readers of “Baghdad Burning”. I posted some of my email correspondence with the pseudonymous author Riverbend (a Sunni who was a computer programmer prior to the invasion) in 3 parts at Liberal Avenger. She has described how she received the same pay as her male colleagues. Here is the last one (with the links to the first two):

A Conversation with Riverbend

When those against the war speak out about the future of women’s rights in Iraq, there is no need to get defensive about being a “Saddam-lover”. The fact is that everyone under that dictatorial regime was ruled under an iron fist. It was a fact of life.

But when we look at the overall differential between men and women in Iraq, it’s a sad state of affairs to realize that women are losing the benefits they once had under a tyrant.

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