i hardly think that femen is the most imp thing going on in the world right now, so this will be my absolute last post on the subject. i am sharing this article on account of the reaction i got last night to naheed mustafa’s “put ur shirts back on, ladies.”
the first picture in this article encapsulates the repugnant overlap between femen, racism, orientalism and downright islamophobia. the thin, white, european, bare-chested woman in the picture is trying to bring equal rights to women in muslim countries by making fun of their religion.
she’s sporting a fake black beard (something used to identify/otherize muslim men, like the ones being droned in waziristan, tortured at bagram and languishing in solitary confinement at guantanamo – has femen ever thought about how their mothers, wives and daughters would respond to such crude stereotyping?)
this brave femen protester has the islamic star and crescent scrawled on her chest, in case there was any confusion. the most repulsive racist trope she’s flaunting however is the towel around her head. how literal can one get?
those who talk about freedom of speech (and freedom of un/dress) pls read the comments posted by femen supporters on a picture of zarah sultana who held a sign saying:
‘i am a proud muslimah. i don’t need “liberating”. i don’t appreciate being used to reinforce western imperialism. you do not represent me!’
one of the most civil reactions from freedom-of-expression feminist warriors was: “grab your ankles and remain silent”. funny how anti-muslim, anti-woman hate spills out of the most radical, liberal, “feminist” spaces.
as far as solidarity, let me quote roqayah chamseddine:
‘When it comes to non-natives speaking in regards to native issues – it is a path that must be tread upon lightly in order to avoid (a) tokenization and (b) the usurpation of native voices. Solidarity is great, but it is when campaigns turned publicity stunts like the ones FEMEN indulges in begin using brown bodies as props while at the same time perpetuating orientalism and engaging in blatant prejudicial acts to promote their idea of ‘liberation’. FEMEN, and other such groups, offer no solution to the undeniable subjugation of women present in the Middle East-North Africa, it is all a show of thin, white grandeur.’
finally, on white feminism and its links to imperialism, i quote sara salem:
‘By clearly delineating the boundaries of what is “good” and “bad” feminism, Femen is using colonial feminist rhetoric that defines Arab women as oppressed by culture and religion, while no mention is made of capitalism, racism, or global imperialism. It is actively promoting the idea that Muslim women are suffering from “false consciousness” because they cannot see (while Femen can see) that the veil and religion are intrinsically harmful to all women. Yet again, the lives of Muslim women are to be judged by European feminists, who yet again have decided that Islam – and the veil – are key components of patriarchy. Where do women who disagree with this fit? Where is the space for a plurality of voices? And the most important question of all: can feminism survive unless it sheds its Eurocentric bias and starts accepting that the experiences of all women should be seen as legitimate?”’
pls read the article here. thx.