If Iran succeeds in democratizing, it will be because of youth culture and women's rights movements. I think that's just wonderful because a) I am woman, hear me roar! Shoot dang, women bringin' down the theocracy b) I am youth, watch me rebel!
Women and youth are wearing less clothes, fighting the moral police (comité), drinking, partying, etc. Because Iran is a Islamic "democracy," the ostensible sexual rebellion (oo-er) is really a political revolution.
Sorry to geek out on you, but I really like democracy, and this semester I have been privileged enough to study the importance of youth in SEVERAL different settings and time periods. This isn't a blanket statement by any means, but youth and women play such a big role in democratization! And women's rights are a huge indicator of increased civil rights for EVERYONE. Oh my gosh, I'm looking forward to writing my final paper on this, the research is just fascinating!
Geek moment over.
3 days to TEXAS. I thought the day would never come. I already miss it in January.
Dreaming of Texas sunsets,
MJ
Hmm... looking back on this, I make some pretty general statements. Democracy in Iran won't be directly correlated to the success of youth rebellion, but the youth will play an important role. Okay, I feel better.
4 comments:
Yay democracy! I miss being in DC. My appreciation of democracy was much more acute when I lived there...
I heard an interview the other day with Muhammad Yunus, the founder of Grameen Bank, and he said (basically) that no society in which women are uneducated will be able to make true progress. Which is why 97% of the Bank's loan recipients are women. And Hilary would agree with you that womens' rights can indicate the progress of human rights over all. She was famous for that during the 90s.
I'm excited that you're writing about this! I want to see it! See you sooooooon!!!!
Hey good news! I was wrong! :) Grameen bank doesn't lend only to women. Grameen lends only to women under a specific mobile phone program in Bangledesh. They're called "telephone ladies." That's what I heard Yunus talking about, but apparently I wasn't listening close enough to catch that he was talking about one specific program. The Bank as a whole doesn't have an explicit policy of only lending to women.
But hey, go Grameen Bank! :)
Perhaps I should work on my arguing skills if your post starts with "Hey, good news! I was wrong!"
...Sorry! You can be right next time? :)
i love this post. i want to save the world through women. mals, let's do this togetherrrrr. i believvvvvvvvvvvvvvvve. seriously.
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