Yes, I'm talking about Maryam Namazie:
http://www.nowlebanon.com/NewsArticleDetails.aspx?ID=379821
I tend to think that it is a good thing, as most non-violent and thought-disruptive acts, but cannot even pinpoint the actual aim.
Thoughts?
Yes, I'm talking about Maryam Namazie:
http://www.nowlebanon.com/NewsArticleDetails.aspx?ID=379821
I tend to think that it is a good thing, as most non-violent and thought-disruptive acts, but cannot even pinpoint the actual aim.
Thoughts?
I have only a passing familiarity with Islamic culture, but a woman posing nude seems fairly obviously aimed at defying the whole modesty-in-dress-so-the-menz-won't-be-tempted-to-rape-you thing.
Or maybe this is too simplistic an interpretation?
Nah...I think you nail it, Ursa. Plus, a dig at the overall prudish elements of Islamic culture.
Not that modesty is always bad in certain degrees. Sexualizing 11 year old girls to sell products seems to be a negative cultural trend in the West, no?
If the stories are to be believed, the punishment for "defying the whole modesty-in-dress-so-the-menz-won't-be-tempted-to-rape-you thing" is to be raped, and then probably stoned for being raped. Sort of a self-fulfilling prophecy thing. Good thing she's living in a place that frowns on that sort of thing.
The original idea for the calender was to show support for an Egyptian blogger who posted nude photos of herself as protest against the islamists taking over after Mubarak was ousted and trying to push women out of the public square. She naturally got the obligatory death treats and calls for her to be imprisoned tried and executed. The blogger Aliya al-Mahdy is, as far as I know, still living in Egypt which take some serious guts. I don't know what the short term effects of this kind of protest will be but the point is an important one and should be pushed vigorously in the west as well, the fact that a woman is dressed in a way you don't consider modest enough does not imply that any man is welcome to feel, grope or have sex with her (most western countries' laws reflect that concept but there are still guys out there who fail to get it).
I am supportive of any time beautiful people want to take their clothes off, being a fan of the human form and all.
But yeah, in this case it's an especially fine way to thumb her nose at some medieval cultural left overs.
I bought one, being a general fan of naked women.
Hey, Ty and I have something in common!
I live in a city where going topless in public has been legal for women for almost fifteen years, but I've never seen it actually done. Social opprobrium is sufficient to keep those swimsuit tops firmly in place at the beach.
Nudity taboos are stupid IMO. I just have never seen the point to them. I think U.S. culture in general conflates nudity with sexuality.
Just returned from a festival where people got around fully naked, and got naked myself on a couple of occasions.
No big deal, I don't really understand why people freak out about "dignity", "honour" and shit.
FO, may I present to you a theory? People freak out about this stuff because having clothes on favourably distinguishes us from other animals - people don't want to be like "other" animals. Animals are "stupider" than humans (not my belief at all, just the theory) and people enjoy feeling "higher" on the evolutionary scale or whatever. I reckon not having clothes on has come to symbolise something like impulsiveness and animalism. Indulgence in either or both of those things tends to annoy those who seek to control others, their bodies and their sexuality.
@kholdom: it's entirely plausible, I would like to see if there is any study or evidence of it.
I understand it more as a chastising of the body, "inferior" to the soul, especially when it comes to gender and sexuality, but there is definitely a component of distancing ourselves from the "beasts"... Many people I know, religious and not, seem to need to put humans on a pedestal, higher than other animals.
When asked to provide a general and coherent "superiority" criterion usually they fail to answer.
I always saw the obsession with "proper clothing" as a function of social and gender roles. Many cultures have men's clothing, women's clothing, children's clothing, clothing reserved for the elite, clothing for the elderly...you name it, somebody somewhere has a prescribed outfit for the role.
Old guys must wear suspenders.
I swear, it's a rule.
I haven't worn suspenders since my twenties. It was more a matter of practicality than a fashion statement. At 115 lbs, I was way too thin for a belt to hold up my pants reliably.
Indeed. But at some point (it differs for everyone) the belt becomes insufficient on its own, and so one then turns to the power combo.
Interestingly, "suspenders" means something else in England.
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