Women Under the Male Microscope

[freshwest]

'Women should not laugh in public,' says Turkey's Deputy Prime Minister in morality speech



By Lizzie Dearden - 29 July 2014

Women should not laugh in public in Turkey, the Deputy Prime Minister has said in a speech on “moral corruption” in the country...

...“(The man) will not be a womaniser. He will be bound to his wife. He will love his children. (The woman) will know what is haram and not haram. She will not laugh in public. She will not be inviting in her attitudes and will protect her chasteness,” Mr Arınç said according to the paper...

Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu, who is running against the Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, in August’s presidential elections, took to Twitter to argue against Mr Arınç‘s statement.

Turkey needed women to laugh, he said, and the country needs to hear laughter more than anything...

Turkey has historically been more progressive with women’s rights than neighbouring countries but recent changes and continuing problems with wage gaps, child brides, honour killings and domestic violence have prompted concerns by activists that the country is slipping backwards...

And Erdoğan wants to restrict abortion.



http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/women-should-not-laugh-in-public-says-turkeys-deputy-prime-minister-in-morality-speech-9635526.html#

Has the 'new' MRA movement gone global, or was it always in place, just cloaked better?

Perhaps the title of does not reflect the full context, as Arınç appeared to call on men to reform their behavior as well. To western eyes this is patronizing; he talks like a 'father figure.'

We know rightwing Christianity is being sold to other nations, such as Uganda and have joined with Russia's conservative church. As resources are becoming more scarce and there is more displacement of people, some are turning to the past to establish what they see as a more stable social model.

It's oppressive but easier to control people than a more egalitarian society. We read of people celebrating what they call a return to nature or community but some cases are little different than a cult in how women are treated.

It seems that women have put up with this or even supported it for so long, that only in more open social groups, are these suggestions of confining women being disputed. Because of greater numbers of women sharing experiences and calling for more universal and just solutions.

It seems that women just end up being the baseling to make it all work in society but get no respect.

[whathehell]

1. OMG..

Somehow I'm guessing they don't get to laugh a lot in private, either.

[littlemissmartypants]

3. ^eom

[BrotherIvan]

2. I would hope this is a conservative nut

We have them too. Turkey is trying to modernize but at the same time there is a national backlash and a return to conservatism. I hope the women of Turkey will not allow their freedoms to be taken away. Such a gorgeous country, but some of their old traditions are holding it back.

[freshwest]

4. I see ours as worse, because of the closer proximity and details. Wonder how women will react there.

Thanks for your input.

[rock]

5. Men shouldn't pick their nose in public either

But what are we gonna do with George W. Bush. I suppose we could try him for war crimes at the Hague.

[Flatulo]

6. I can't for the life of me see any connection between Islamic fundamentalism and MRA

movements, other than both being patriarchal movements. Islamic fundamentalism is just Islamic fundamentalism.

Although it is curious that in an article about Islamic fundamentalism, you go out of your way to comment on the exportation of conservative Christianity, and never once mention Islamic fundamentalism.

Is Islamic fundamentalism some kind of taboo topic here?
.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

7. a question about this question =

Is Islamic fundamentalism some kind of taboo topic here?

by "here" do you mean in HoF in particular or DU3 in general ... ?

[Flatulo]

8. I mean everywhere... media, DU, polite company...

There seems a reluctance to discuss what, in my view, is a very real problem in most religions, but most especial Islam.

ETA: I am not a Christian. I'm an atheist.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

9. The Fundamentalists of any/all religions seem to carry things too far, to a point of absurdity, yes.

It appears that way to me.

[Flatulo]

10. Agreed. And yet, I'm aware that many Muslim women embrace their faith and customs,

which is perfectly fine with me. But it troubles me that those traditions are usually imposed by a male power structure that places them in a position of servitude.

So, why is there a dearth of discussion on the issue? Is there some kind of human instinct to not give offense? Surely it's possible to discuss patriarchy in religion, including Islam, without being hurtful?

[Tuesday Afternoon]

11. yes and I think that angle has been discussed in some depth here in HoF ...

you might want to peruse our back pages and poke around for threads on the subject. I would give links but, am out of pocket just now and really not sure if it is covered to the extent you are interested.

I feel sure that HoF would not suppress and would actually invite discussion/conversation of this topic.

[Flatulo]

12. Thanks, I'll looks around. nt