Archive for
May 29th, 2008
Stories
From the Diary of a Sinister Egyptian Spinster
Back in March 2008, Eman Hashim wrote a post [Ar] questioning why do Muslim Egyptian women need a “wakeel” - a man who has to sign her off to her husband. Let me give you a bit more insight here: unlike western cultures where the father gives away the bride as a jest of his approval and blessing, in Islam the marriage is “flawed” if the father, or the uncle if the father is deceased, has to speak on the bride's behalf through out all the paperwork and marriage procedures. Many sheikhs frown upon the thought of a girl - especially one who has never been married before and who is supposedly a virgin - marrying herself away.
In her not-so-conventional post, Eman wonders:
“Why does a woman in Egypt need to assign a man to give her away? Why do women have to go from one man's to another man's custody? I want to face my future husband as we exchange vows … I need to look into his eyes and listen to him … I want him to listen to me promise to care for him like a good Muslim wife … why do I need anyone on my behalf?
In May 2008, another daring post hit another deeply rooted tradition:
“I want to - God willing - move out … yes I want to leave my parents and live on my own … alone.”
Eman lists the contradictory - mainly opposing and discouraging responses - from people saying:
“What do you mean? Why leave your mom? How could a girl live alone? How could a girl live without a man? One day you will regret leaving your family; you would want to turn back time to spend just one day with them. Yeah .. this is what we learnt from the West! Why don't you become independent in your room? What about suitors and potential husbands?”
Of course, most people failed to understand Eman's logic about maturity, independence, and leaving the nest.
On May 24, 2008 Eman wrote about a bundle of female ailments in Egypt:
“Do you remember the issues of assigning a man to marry you away? Do you remember the living independently issue? Ok .. have you heard of a woman's right to have the power of divorcing herself? Her right to end her marriage in court by giving her husband back anything he gave her and waiving her right for alimony? Does anyone know that there is a law that allows the woman to get a divorce and retain all her financial rights in case her husband gets a second wife? There is also another law that allows the wife to travel without getting the consent of he husband. Do you recall women demanding for their right to key and effective positions as ministers, judges, and other key positions in the state?”
Eman wished to live to see the day when women understood those rights, used them, and made the rest of their rights a reality.
“Of course such demands and the likes infuriate many men and women; those who see them against the nature of women or the nature of the relationship between men and women. Others denied them on the account of religion and healthy family ties. They all say that those are not the real issues of women in Egypt but when you ask them to phrase “the real issues”, they tell you that a woman's challenging role lies in raising a generation of good Muslim boys and girls - as though it does not need a free mature mind and spirit to fulfill that role.”
Eman calls their bluff :
“They object only because of the strength and determination behind my words. The thought of a woman who has a choice and who knows it drives them crazy …. what really matters to me as a person and what I will defend ferociously is “my belief in the right to choose” and the ability to “examine your choices”. I do not care whether you give yourself away, move out, divorce a miserable man, stay in a miserable marriage, travel against your husband's will, stay at home, or get a life … as long as you thought about your options and made your choice … I besiege you … think and choose what you truly want … you do not owe anyone anything.”
Eman then quoted some of proverbs and legacy of quotes and sayings to support how unfair our mothers and our society has been to us:
“Do not open the girls' eyes” - This is a saying the denotes preserving a girl's innocence as if knowledge and experience will corrupt her!
“Men and women were made for one another … you are a sinister spinster” - Meaning get married to any man as long as he could provide for you or else you will bear the stigma of being a spinster.
“All men are kids” - This particular line is the ideal hanger for any mistake or offense.
“You will not change them” - Referring to men as though your only option is accepting your fate as an Egyptian girl in a backward society.
“Divorce is not an option” - Says who?
“Court divorce is for those women … you know who!” - Bad girls!
“Better a man's shadow than that of a wall.” - Just grab any man!
“Those are just a few examples of how girls are mentally oppressed and denied their basic right to choose,” concluded Eman.
Uzbekistan: Tashkent blogged
It is very interesting to notice that during the recent days the Uzbek blogosphere was mainly discussing Tashkent, the capital city of Uzbekistan.
Today, Tashkent is at a stand of its beauty, as it is too early for summer heat and it is green and clean also. For a long time Tashkent has been the heartland of Central Asia - unlike other Stans - having closer ties with Kremlin and being the capital of the only Central Asian country that has borders with all other four countries of the region plus Afghanistan.
Today, Tashkent still plays a significant role in the region's political and economic life. However, the blogosphere was neglecting the Tashkent's position in the region and was mainly discussing the antique historical sites and beautiful infrastructure of the city that has been under constant reconstruction after the collapse of the Soviet Union.
(more…)
Nicaragua: A Closer Look at a Government Program for Microloans
Last Sunday on “Esta Semana”, a 60 Minutes-style TV news program in Nicaragua, a report took and in-depth look at Usura Cero (Zero Usury), a goverment-financed program that gives soft loans to women-led microbusinesses.
But Naren Mayorga from ¿Y ahora de que vamos a hablar? [es] summarizes the scope of the program:
Lo poco que se sabe del mismo es que se ofrecen crédito por el rango de C$1,000 a C$5,000 a comerciantes mujeres urbanos bajo la metodología de Grupos solidarios y con tasas de interés subsidiadas que ronda el 4% anual con un périodo de gracia de varia de 2 a 6 meses según el monto prestado y que en su administración participan distintas organizaciones e instituciones del estado.
The little that is known is that loans of C$1,000-C$5,000 Cordobas are given to urban women vendors under the methodology of solidarity groups and with low, subsidized interests rate of about 4% annual with a grace period between 2-6 months according to the amount lent. Different organizations and state institutions are involved in the administration.
This help does not cover the financial needs of the beneficiaries. One beneficiary told Esta Semana she uses around C$10,000-C$15,000 Cordobas in loans, so the goverment help does just cover a part of the a third part of the money.
In addition, the blog signals and points not just the errors made by the TV journalistic crew, but by the goverment and directors of the program.
…En una entrevista que le hicieron a la encargada del Usura Cero en uno de los medios de comunicación afines al gobierno mencionó que el programa era todo un éxito por que se estaba logrando la recuperación de más del 70% de los montos prestados. Para que un programa de este tipo sea viable debe de tener una tasa de recuperación mayor al 90% menos que eso está condenado al fracaso o subsistir mediante la inyección de fondos del erario público o bien mediante préstamos o donaciones de otros países (como es el caso del usura cero).
…In a inverview of the manager of Zero Usury on one of the official government-run media, she said that the program was a complete success because they were making 70% debt recovery. For a program of this kind they must have a debt recovery rate of at least 90% or they will be condemned to failure or have to survive with goverment money or foreign countries donations.
Links for Thu, 2008-05
Argenautas [es] commemorates 39 years since the “Cordobazo” in the Aregentine city of Córdoba which featured, “the largest mobilization of workers and students and marked the beginning of the end of the dictatorship of Juan Carlos Onganía.”
Camiri Digital [es] is a new blog for residents of Camiri, a Bolivian town in the southeastern part of the country. It also helps unite those residents who now live in different parts of Bolivia, as well as those living abroad.
Edgar Ruiz Díaz of Las Preguntas de Venerando [es] writes about the change in power in Paraguay, and how many public workers will now try to convince the new administration that they belong. He also suggests the creation of a “People's Union,” which will help control the public administration.
“A blog about economics of development, in particular about the East Timor economy, and about what can then be helpful to economic development of this country”, A.M. de Almeida Serra [pt] introduces a new blog about East Timor.
Blogian comments on the misrepresentation of the words of a journalist partly of Turkish descent speaking in Yerevan, the Armenian capital, by the local pro-opposition A1 Plus news agency. The blog says that a combination of factors such as anti-Turkish sentiment and sexism might have something to do with what it considers to be the twisting of words by The Economist's Amberin Zaman who coincidently also happens to be the wife of the acting U.S. Ambassador to Armenia.
A school girl wrote down her lack of feelings on the Sichuan earthquake in her blog. Netizens found out her identity and she was force to make public apology. Her school also decided give her a demerit. The incident is recorded at evchk [zh]. Yeung Sir (a teacher) wrote at inmediahk.net that people shouldn't blame the children for their lack of feelings, but should ask why the adult world has created such environment for our kids.
A video with a woman (from Liaoning) cursing Earthquake victims in Sichuan has been circulated widely in China. More Videos curse back.
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