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Assignment 11

Lila Abu-Lughod writes a very matter-of-fact and powerful essay on Muslim women and if they need “saving”. Her purpose of the essay is not only to educate those who are ignorant or unaware of intricacies that go into veiling in Muslim countries, but also to argue that the Western way is not always the best way. She has a problem with the fact that Americans have construed this idea of Muslim women needing help, that the fact that they cover themselves means that these women have lost female agency and their voice. Americans think that because Afghan women did not tear off their burqas upon liberation, their oppression must run so deep that they must not understand how oppressed they are. Contrary to this belief, says Abu-Lughod, even if liberation let women choose whether to cover themselves or not, most Afghani women would choose to cover themselves in some way or another, perhaps more modestly. The burqa is tied to individualistic, societal, cultural and religious meaning. The author believes Americans have an “obsession” with the veil, and that there are more pressing issues to deal with when concerning ourselves with Muslim women.

While she does not come out and say it verbatim, I think Abu-Lughod would argue that Americans need to take a look at and criticize their own social issues before trying to make other countries their “project”. Ideas of globalization lead to a moral and social sense of superiority over the “others” that need saving. The fact is, Muslim women are not necessarily the ones coming out and asking for help. Further, the author says she does not know of one non-American woman that has ever said they wish to be more like American women. In order to present a case for female agency in any country, one must understand the significance of cultural difference and learn to accept that what is appropriate in other countries through customs and rituals is quite frankly, none of our business.