Everyday Bliss For Women In Leadership

The Gamut Point of Fashion <-- click here for a thought provoking photo of differences in Iraqi fashion

Anyone who has fixed ideas about the state of hijab (veiling, hair and body covering) in Iraq needs to get themselves on over to Iraqi dentist Zeyad's awesome “Healing Iraq” blog for consistently provocative, informative content and check out his photo blogs, one of which is of a several radical Women’s Groups holding events in Fardus Square, Baghdad where the photo above was taken. This particular photo shows a stunningly attractive, fashionably dressed young Iraqi woman in spangled high heels looking at the camera from a crowd scene. She is wearing a chic burgundy blouse-set and black trousers. Her makeup is flawless, her nails manicured. She wears a golden ring, silver watch and necklace and her hair is loose, bound only by sunglasses perched atop her head. She could have stepped off the corner at Hollywood and Vine. Her look is bold, challenging. She is nobody’s fool, slave or property. Standing in front of her with her face turned in profile from the camera is another woman, perhaps in her mid-40’s wearing a dark but fashionable pants suit, with a sage green flowing scarf wrapped securely around her head. The front of her hairline shows by a few inches. She’s modern, but not taking any chances (like many of my Muslim girlfriends who lived overseas). The aura about her speaks of quiet certainty, she is intent upon a speaker, or a scene in front of her. She appears to know exactly what she’s doing and where she’s going.

Or how about this one, my favorite picture of all. I love the grey haired lady shouting into the microphone. I don’t know what this is all about, but she’s giving some issue the what-for alright. Man, what a granny she must be! What a mom, what a daughter, what a leader…

My three years as a Muslim in university (yes, you read right, 1981 - 1984 in the mosque complete with veil, five daily prayers and the whole enchilada…er, kebab) tell me that these women are not the stereotypically “poor oppressed third worlders” that Americans tend to envision when they think of women in Middle Eastern countries. The women in these pictures (okay, they’re members of women’s groups, which are usually radical) are proactive, kickin’ booty and takin’ names. They have their work cut out for them and they know it. And they’re not shirking from the job to be done, they’re ploughing in with both feet forwards and damn the torpedoes. My hijab is off to the ladies of Iraq and Afghanistan, both the covered and the uncovered, both fashionably clad and burqua-attired. While the menfolks are out digging the ditches, laying new power cables and making sure systems are running efficiently, the womenfolk are making sure the bottom line doesn’t get lost in the uproar. And these gutsy, resourceful ladies have had plenty of uproar.

I say, let’s support them in whatever ways we can. I’m American, and whether I agreed with the continuing occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan or not, it is my country that’s doing the occupying. Regardless of the political correctness or incorrectness, I feel I have a duty to support those who have been affected by my country’s actions. If you feel the same, here are some great places to go for information and support:

http://www.iraq.net/ General Information on the situation in Iraq

http://www.rawa.org/ Afghani Women’s Resistance and Support Organization

http://www.operationgive.org/ Iraqi Support Donation Station

http://www.justinalexander.net/iraq/ Future of Iraq Portal

Disclaimer: While I think the above are good information sites, like many in this genre, they contain strongly worded proclaimations and stridently voiced viewpoints from people who have suffered grave injustices. I may not necessarily endorse any political viewpoints found on any of the sites above but value them for their honesty, education value and bravery in stating what others have long tried to suppress. Go, look and enjoy educating yourself further on this situation. I certainly have. And I’ve learned a lot in reading Iraqi blogs and the news sites pointed to by them. The photo blogs are the best! Go look at the faces of these people. They are real, they are out there, and they are not a particle different from you and me.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, February 24th, 2004 at 6:37 pm and is filed under Day In The Life, Weblogs, Coaching For Leaders, Wonderful People, Current Affairs, Religion, Travel. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.