tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31844753.post4594036571127165401..comments2023-10-31T13:47:11.422+02:00Comments on BellyLorna: Ya Bint el Baladi.Lorna (aka BellyLorna!)http://www.blogger.com/profile/08084848477083529818noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31844753.post-62937408882372815512012-06-14T16:39:24.553+02:002012-06-14T16:39:24.553+02:00Well, we were waiting for the stupid comment, &quo...Well, we were waiting for the stupid comment, "Anonymous" above has kindly provided it!<br /><br />Yes, it probably is to do with poverty, I don't recall Lorna alluding to the reasons for these differences, merely their existence, so how is that one-sided?<br /><br />Absolutely each system has its own provisions, there are many things wrong with the West also, some of which you mention, although I will NOT apologise that the vast majority of the population have a good standard of education, sorry for you if you are such a product of the Mubarak-era propaganda that you see this as a bad thing!<br /><br />As for making the comparison between being married to a decent Muslim or a selfish Westerner, that is a ridiculous comparison for many reasons. For a start, "muslim" is a religion ALSO PRESENT in the West. "Western" is geographical/cultural. You are aware that Muslim Westerners exist? Many of them being from Egypt, who have decided life is better for them in the West. "Anonymous" is a case in point: no qualms about moving to the West presumably for financial reasons but has to endure "continual suffering from hangover [sic] British female co-workers" (presumably your male colleagues don't get hangovers). If the suffering is so overwhelming, you have the CHOICE - there's that word again- to LEAVE!<br /><br />And of course, please try to find me any person on the planet who would rather marry a selfish person or a decent person...? Demographics are irrelevant!<br /><br />And lucky you: you have the CHOICE. This is the POINT! For whatever reason (culture, poverty, geography, you choose), there is a huge chunk of a population who live in a way women in the west could not imagine, and would not hear about were it not for observers like Lorna. It is not an imperialistic throwback of sentimentality, "pity the poor native", it is a stark reminder to women outside of Egypt how lucky they are to have the choices open to them.<br /><br />And in the interests of being "balanced", at least "Anonymous" doesn't deny the reality of the situation at least, that at least shows some degree of open-mindedness compared to many who simply deny the reality these women face. Well done you for your liberalism.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31844753.post-72064457596930295442012-06-14T14:15:15.116+02:002012-06-14T14:15:15.116+02:00How one-sided and typically British! Most things t...How one-sided and typically British! Most things the author mentions are consequences of one simple fact: Egyptian society is much poorer. And Brits have helped it a lot. <br />The truth is that each system has its own provisions. I would rather be married to a decent Moslem, than to another Westerner who keeps his bank accounts private (I have been both). <br />I am disgusted to live with British mates who cannot wash after them and believe that this is ‘slavery’. Despising homework and delegating such tasks to foreigners is so very British … And I am disgusted to watch my constantly suffering from hangover British female co-workers, crawling from one pub to another on every occasion. Some of them pay rent to their parents (!!!!). Everyone has a PhD, so enough education. Is it your idea of feminist achievement? Certainly not mine. I do not see anything wrong in returning home before dark to people that respect you. <br />Cultural differences, as it happens.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31844753.post-59681009017781014582012-06-09T15:55:21.617+02:002012-06-09T15:55:21.617+02:00To the previous poster, it doesn't look to me ...To the previous poster, it doesn't look to me as tho Lorna is trying to be any kind of "savior," she is opening a dialogue which is important to the entire global community. In th US, many women do not realize how recent our own rights, both legal and socially enforced, were fought for, how fragile those rights are or how easily we could lose them. What Lorna described above is not too different from what I saw in the poorer classes when I lived in Central America 15 years ago, tho there was more legal support and a degree of having many men leave the community for work made for some differences. I would like women in Egypt and around the world to know that we aren't here to "save" them, but weare here to help & support. Beyond that, we do need to discuss as a global community what does work in helping women find their rights to self-determination.Alaska Awalimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08699112417587268312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31844753.post-69095738138784809432012-06-01T06:28:15.850+02:002012-06-01T06:28:15.850+02:00SO glad we have a white saviour to lead the way fo...SO glad we have a white saviour to lead the way for us poor Arab women with the vague solution of "education."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31844753.post-46796633612319936632012-05-31T02:14:20.872+02:002012-05-31T02:14:20.872+02:00I've had some family members behave like this ...I've had some family members behave like this to me in the UK! Luckily I was able to say no and stop it going any further. Sometimes educated women's families do this to them too. <br />As for ordinary uneducated women (and men) in Egypt, they seem first and foremost uneducated about Islam. I must say that the Quran itself never advocates this kind of treatment of any woman. It is ignorance which causes repression. And yes, my own feeling, having read writers like Ahdaf Soueif, who recently published a book (Cairo:My Revolution) is that Egyptian women of any background will organise themselves and help and educate each other as they have in other so-called repressed societies. Also Western women can be pretty unfairly treated too (just look at the body/weight fascism and sexual double standards, egged on by the Western media, not to mention pay and work discrimination, experienced by women in the West). <br />Our Egyptian sisters I am sure will come forward, but they need the space to say what it is THEY want.<br /><br />From A British Muslim Bellydancer and Baladi Dancer.OrientalIndianRosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09010638340818135356noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31844753.post-47169109411790307762012-05-30T23:04:05.631+02:002012-05-30T23:04:05.631+02:00This is a perspective of a person who is not Egypt...This is a perspective of a person who is not Egyptian, Arab or Muslim although some issues do seem odd this is a way of life for some people and to each his own.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31844753.post-1378632137033546942012-05-30T15:16:14.014+02:002012-05-30T15:16:14.014+02:00Thank you all so much for your feedback- whether h...Thank you all so much for your feedback- whether here or on Twitter or Facebook. <br /><br />Rhona- I am proud to be your cousin too (that comment made me well up!!!)Lorna (aka BellyLorna!)https://www.blogger.com/profile/08084848477083529818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31844753.post-13465453623926688042012-05-30T15:11:46.679+02:002012-05-30T15:11:46.679+02:00I think writings like yours is the best way you ca...I think writings like yours is the best way you can help the cause of the repressed female. We are so fortunate to be able to live the way we do , at least here in North America. I do to try to make a concious effort to talk about womens rights or lack there of. I give you full marks for acknowledging and reporting on the struggles of these brave girls. Proud to be your cousin.Rhonanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31844753.post-23058006288341109652012-05-30T09:47:56.975+02:002012-05-30T09:47:56.975+02:00Dear Anna,
I'm going to disappoint you here a...Dear Anna,<br /><br />I'm going to disappoint you here and support every single thing Lorna said. The situation here in Egypt regarding women's rights is shameful. What's worst is that what Lorna has described here is in Cairo, and I'm sure that if she moved to the rural areas, things are going to be even worse.<br /><br />I had big hopes the revolution was going to bring change to this miserable situation, by at least starting with providing good education which I believe is the base for any kind of change, but it seems things are going to take a bit longer than I expected.<br /><br />Thanks for the good post Lorna.Adham Khairyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03004041454920220904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31844753.post-41074472771819868292012-05-30T00:11:39.974+02:002012-05-30T00:11:39.974+02:00Yes, education! But also the fundamental belief th...Yes, education! But also the fundamental belief that a woman is in charge of her own life. Women don't require permission - for anything. My husband is my partner, not my master. And he believes that too. Changing a law isn't sufficient without changing the society that supported the initial law. How does that happen? I admit, I don't know.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31844753.post-86766973117564095362012-05-29T19:55:51.546+02:002012-05-29T19:55:51.546+02:00I rarely get to read blogs these days, but just ha...I rarely get to read blogs these days, but just happened to be online as you posted this. I too am waiting for some idiotic responses to it, saying you don't know what you're talking about. Without a doubt, it will be a guy, because every girl and woman in Egypt knows this is true. Sadly.<br />Painful subject, but great post!Annanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31844753.post-33260971998783726982012-05-29T19:54:49.007+02:002012-05-29T19:54:49.007+02:00I rarely get to read blogs these days, but just ha...I rarely get to read blogs these days, but just happened to be online as you posted this. I too am waiting for some idiotic responses to it, saying you don't know what you're talking about. Without a doubt, it will be a guy, because every girl and woman in Egypt knows this is true. Sadly.<br />Sad subject, but great post! Now I'll start reading backwards!Annanoreply@blogger.com