General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: FEMEN Protests: Nobody Asked This Group to Speak For Oppressed Muslim Women [View all]Deep13
(39,154 posts)The whole point of the FEMEN protest was to deconstruct the idea that masculine honor comes from feminine modesty. That idea is a social control that gives men the right to control "their" women to protect the men's honor. By taking her clothes off, that woman in Tunis instantly deprived men of their honor while demonstrating what an idiotic idea it really is. European supporters emulated her in support. Frankly, it was a brave thing to do, not only because they knew they were doing something embarrassing and socially unacceptable, but because they now risk murders themselves from Muslim extremists. (It's happened before.)
So now Muslim women, many of whom live under the thumb of patriarchal expression are dutifully coming out in defense of that system. It reminds me of an abused wife who insists her drunk of a husband still loves her. It's a little ironic since we would never have heard from most of these anti-FEMEN protesters if they did not have outsiders to criticize.
It doesn't matter that the FEMEN group lives in the West. There is no monolithic "West" anymore than there is one Orient. Ending Orientalism not only helps free Muslims from Western condescension, but it allows Westerners to understand that Middle Eastern people are the same as they are. Consequently, there is no reason why people who are in a position to challenge the Muslim patriarchy outside of majority-Muslim countries should not do so.