Intouch Tanommitvatana
5/06/2009
1/2 Humanities
Saudi Arabian Women
Research Introduction
People often refer the life of Saudi Women as ‘The Gender Apartheid’ Just hearing that word “Gender Apartheid” had intrigued me into researching on the topic about Saudi Arabian Women. Curiosities started to build of in my head, why do people resemble the life of Saudi women as Gender Apartheid? Just before we started our unit on the Middle East we studied about the famous conflict between white South Africans and black South Africans, Apartheid. Apartheid was the malicious law in 1948 that separated the whites and the blacks. Apartheid had forced the blacks who were living in the middle class to move into the needy township of Soweto. Not only did Apartheid lead the blacks into lower social status, it took away their freedom, and basic human rights. The blacks were being mistreated and were not given the opportunity to move up into a higher social status. Whereas a white person who was illiterate can get a job that a smart black person can’t. This shows me that the racial segregation was an unfair law that improves one’s lives while oppressing the others’. This made me come up with an assumption that Gender Apartheid was the sex segregation where the female Saudi Arabians were being mistreated, and experiencing a harder life style than the male. This led me to thinking, what basic rights were taken away from the Saudi women? How does this compare to the amount of freedom and rights the male received?
Conclusion
The lifestyle the Saudi women experience is a replica of ‘Gender Apartheid’. Basic human rights were taken away from them, resembling the incident where the blacks were raided out of their homes. The Saudi women sacrificed a lot of freedom and had to live under rules and restrictions. The female had to face tyranny while the male were granted liberty. This looks a lot like the era of Apartheid where the blacks were under the white’s command and authority. The Saudi women had to confront injustice when the men were considered main priority. In the legal system, the women’s testimonies were regarded as an assumption, but on the other hand the male testimonies were believed as fact. In cases of assault or rape the victim’s (female) testimonies again is a presumption while everything the attacker (male) says is accepted as the truth. This demonstrated an unbelievable amount of prejudice which is another example of sex discrimination that Saudi Women have to face. Moreover the female gets punished for being with a male stranger. This is just a fraction of what Saudi women have to deal with. They are prohibited from studying certain majors, stopped from performing particular fields of jobs, and only 5% of the country’s workforces are female. Saudi women’s lives are controlled by their male relatives. Their husbands have control over them, either their career, travel plans, or bank account. To perform each of these, the women must obtain permission from their husband. More discrimination is shown where a son inherits double the amount of inheritance a daughter receives. Female aren’t allowed to drive or ride motorbikes controlling their freedom of movement. Saudi women have to be escorted by male relatives most of the time when outside. When Saudi women are outside their home, they are expected to cover their body head to toe with the abaya and a head veil, uncovering the eye with a slot for vision. Female also aren’t allowed to vote or appoint high positions in the public office. It is transparent that the women suffer due to lack of freedom and having to follow the rule and restrictions. Their lives are controlled exemplifying sex segregations and gender apartheid.
Posted in Uncategorized June 4, 2009
Our Opinion:
Most categories on the Blog Rubric seems fair. What we think will be hard to reach the standard of is blogging community. Having to do 2 quality posts each week is already hard to keep up with, evenmore, we have to visit other’s blogs to comment and cite others in our research and writing. Another category that seemed complex was the use of enhancements. Instructions on how to put a video or audio on our blog seemed vague which was a difficulty we confronted when doing our blog. The other categories seemed sensible.
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Ideas& Content
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Overall, the blog shows you have basically just repeated back information; there’s no evidence you have thought about your learning, especially in relation to topics about the Middle East. You have organized the information with a few basic tags and categories. There is little evidence of your growth through reflection on learning and society.
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Overall, the blog shows you have some basic thoughts about the information and what you have learned, especially in relation to topics about the Middle East. You have organized the information with a few helpful tags and categories, and thus you have created something others can use and benefit from.There is a little evidence of your growth through reflection on learning and society.
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Overall, the blog shows you have thought about the information and what you have learned, especially in relation to topics about the Middle East. You have organized the information with some meaningful tags and categories, and thus you have created something others can use and benefit from.The blog entries convey evidence of your growth through reflection on learning and society.
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Overall, the blog shows you have thought deeply about the information and what you have learned, especially in relation to topics about the Middle East. You have organized the information with many meaningful tags and categories, and thus you have created something others can use and benefit from. It is very clear to the reader of your blog that you know a lot about various topics and that you have been engaged with ideas & information. The blog entries convey extensive evidence of your growth through reflection on learning and society.
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Post Frequency
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The post frequency
is well below course
expectations.
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The post frequency
is slightly below
average.
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You are creatingseveral (3-5) posts per week about the information you learn about the Middle East and other relevant blogging observations. This number is flexible as it is based on the information coming at you and your desire/need to reflect, record, and be engaged with the learning.
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The post
frequency
greatly exceeds
course
expectations.
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Writing Quality
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Your posts are usually simple and plain – they do not show any voice or character. Spelling, punctuation, grammar could be improved and often distract from meaning.
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Your posts are mainly acceptable- they do show some voice or character. Spelling, punctuation, grammar could be improved and sometimes distract from meaning.
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Your posts usually have a voice and character that comes out in your writing. Spelling, punctuation, grammar, etc. are mainly under control.
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Your posts consistently have a strong voice and character that comes out in your writing. Spelling, punctuation, grammar, etc. are under control. Your writing is something to be proud of!
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BloggingCommunity
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You do not show
evidence of any
participation in the
blogging
community, or the
course community,
through the use of
blogs.
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You rarely
participated in the
blogging
community. Most, if
not all, participation
was limited to the
blogs of other
classmates.
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You have
participated moderately in the
blogging
community. There
was some evidence
of other blog
participation.
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You have participated
actively in the
blogging
community via
comments on
other blogs,
and citing others
in your research
and writing.
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Use of Enhancements
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You did
nothing to enhance
or personalize your
blog space.
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There is very little
evidence of
multimedia
enhancement and
your blog is
primarily text-based.
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You have
enhanced your
blog to some
extent using images,
audio, video or
other add-ons.
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You have
enhanced your
blog effectively using images,
audio, video or
other add-ons such as RSS feeds.
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Posted in Uncategorized June 4, 2009
Women in Saudi Arabia
Introduction
After watching few movies about Middle East and Muslim religion, I realized that Muslim women, especially women in Saudi Arabia were being oppressed by their religion. After realizing that Saudi women are oppressed by their religion, I became curious if that was really true or just in movies. Also I always heard about how women can’t drive and are forced to wear abaya (a covering of face) from my friend Loic who lived there for 5 years. Therefore, I started my humanities research project about Saudi women. My research question, “Is Saudi women oppressed by their religion,” was very fun to search about because I just didn’t learn about a new religion but as a male, I could see the perceptions from women’s side of view. While doing this research project about Saudi women, I was hoping to figure more about Muslim religion, how women are treated in different parts of the world and what are some stereotypes about Saudi women.
Conclusion
A lot of people, including me say that the world is unfair, and it is true, world really is unfair. Some innocent people gets in trouble for nothing and some guilty people get away with their crime. For example, in Saudi Arabia, the rules are made very unfair to women. During my research about Saudi women’s rights, I realized that there are three main key points about my topic. They were the way government views Saudi women, influence due to the rules of Saudi government and men, and surprising facts about Saudi women. I learned that the government thinks that women are lower, have less rights then men. For instance, they wouldn’t let a women get the same education as the men because they think men should be more superior to women. Due to rules for Saudi women, they can’t drive, have to wear abaya, can’t be with men other than her relatives and can’t do online chatting. However, some surprising facts I found out about Saudi women are that they do like to party like all other humans and they want to have fun. From this research, I learned that even though we are all treated differently based on our gender, status, and nationalities, we are all created equal and we all deserve the same rights as everyone else. The answer to my research question, “Is Saudi women oppressed by their religion,” was answered through articles that I read, videos I watched and by pictures I saw. Saudi women are oppressed by their religion but religion is not the only thing that oppresses them. Mainly men and the rules men created are oppressing the women because in other Muslim countries, women aren’t treated as bad. The sources I used were really good because if the sources were bias, I wouldn’t have used them. By this research, I learned more about Saudi women, and that religion isn’t the only thing that keeps them from having less rights and less equality compared to men.
Posted in Uncategorized June 4, 2009
Judaism
- Followers are called Jews
- Judaism is based on the Holy book (TeNaKh)
TeNaKh
- Written in Hebrew
- Word TeNaKh came from three parts of the Holy book
3 parts of the Holy book:
- Torah – Stories of the ancient Hebrews and Hebrew Law
- Nevi’im – History of Hebrew messengers of God’s word, prophets.
- Ketuvim – Writings, psalms, and prayers writing in a song or poem
- Torah is the most important part of the holy book
- Goal of Judaism is to live a good life according to laws of Torah
- Exp. Torah law: The Sabbath day
Sabbath Day:
- Friday evening to Saturday evening Jews must rest and pray
- Traditional family meal
- Eating Shabbat bread (challah) and sharing wine
- Gather in holy building, the synagogue
- Rabbi (teacher) leads the worshippers, (prayers and readings)
- Rabbi gives religious speech (sermon)
Rabbis
- Torah scholars that have everyday jobs
- Are Rabbis only during work time at the synagogue
- Rabbis spoke about Jewish law (Talmud) 2000 years ago
- It is believed that the Talmud unfold in every generation
- Torah guides the Jewish religion and social life
- Jews can only eat kosher food (clean preparation of food)
- Opposite of kosher food are tref, includes pork, shellfish, and meat prepared with dairy products
Sects: Orthodox, Conservative, Reformed
Islam
- Follower are called Muslims
- Islam is based on god’s teachingsand example of the life of Muhammad
- Mecca is the holiest city, the center of Islam
- Arabic is a sacred language of Islam
- Holy book of Islam, the Koran
- Arabic is the sacred language of Islam
Koran
- Translated into many languages
- Used for religious purposes
- Teachings god gave to Muhammad
- History and laws of the ancient Hebrews
- Prophets
- Story of Jesus’ life
- Goal of Islam, living according to god’s guidance
- Goal, salvation, never ending life
5 basic practices to achieve Salvation (5 pillars found in the Koran)
- Shadada – public declaration of faith , which s recitation of the Islamic basic beliefs (creed)
- Salat – Muslims pray five times a day at specific times, always facing the Mecca
- Zakat – giving to the needy
- Siyam – Not eating, drinking, having sexual relations from dawn to sunset during the month of Ramadan
- Hajj – A journey to Mecca (once in their life time)
- Holy building, Mosque
- Mosque is a place where prayers are held on Friday noon
- Imam, leads prayers
Imams
- read from the Koran
- religious speeches
- Imams must have good character, religous knowledge
- Jerusalem, sacred as the city of prophets
- Believed Jerusalem was where Muhammad met other prophets and ascended to heaven
Sects: Sunni, Shi’i
Christianity
- Followers are called Christians
- Base their religion of life and teachings of Jesus of Nazereth (Jesus Christ)
- Christian idea of god is the trinity since they believe that god has 3 parts
God
- God the Father
- God the Son (Jesus Christ)
- Holy Spirit (God’s presence on earth)
- Believe that Jesus was part of god
- Believe that Jesus was human and divine
- Believed that Jesus died on a cross and was buried
- Believed that Jesus rose from the dead 3 days later
- Believed that Jesus ascended to heaven with God the Father
- Jesus’ life is recorded in the Christian holy book (the bible)
Bible
- Has no sacred languages
- Translated into thousands of languages
Old Testament
- History of law and stories of prophets
- Psalms, prayers written in song/poem
New Testament
- Four gospels, stories of Jesus’ life
- Letters, stories about early Christians
- Goal of Christianity is to achieve salvation
Live as Christian in 2 ways
- Follow Jesus’ teachings about living a good life
- Participate in sacraments
- People that carry out ceremonies are required to be specially trained
- Priests, Christians ministers lead the worshipping in holy buildings (churches)
- Worship – experience sacrament, recite beliefs, pray , read the bible
- Ministers give religious speeches related to the bible
- Sects: Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant
What all religions have in common is that Abraham lived in the Middle East 4000 years ago when the majority of people believed in god. Abraham believed in only one, all -powerful god. They also believed that Abraham made a convenant or an agreement with God.
Posted in Uncategorized May 15, 2009
The food of the Middle East is a celebration of life. No matter the country, the staples are fresh fruits and vegetables that grow in the hills. The spices and flavors of Middle Eastern food awaken the senses, sparkling against the thicker, richer tastes of the main ingredients. Mints, lemon, garlic, rosemary — all have a fresh, astringent, refreshing quality. Throughout the region, the cuisine varies, but these things remain the same: fresh ingredients, astringent and piquant spices, olive oil, and only a little meat.
The most common type of meat used to prepare food in the region of the Middle East is lamb, goat, and camel. Today, foods in the Middle East such as Arabian food are influenced from combinations of Indian food, Lebanese food, and food from nations further west.
Food is also plays a big part in religions of the Middle East. Judaism is one good example. In the holy book, the laws of torah requires for Jews to pass on their traditions. One of the laws is for Jews to keep the Sabbath day (Shabbat). During the Shabbat people are required to pray at certain times and the practice begins with a traditional family meal. The meal includes the Shabbat bread, the challah, and sharing wine.
The Shabbat bread (challah)
Popular Middle Eastern Food:
Kebabs Hummus Pita Bread
Moutabel Baba Ghannouj Falafel
Posted in Uncategorized May 15, 2009
A brother of Iraq’s trade minister has been arrested on suspicion of corruption, officials say.
The trade ministry is responsible for food rationing
Sabah Mohammed al-Sudany was held at a checkpoint in the south of the country.
News of the arrest came on the same day Prime Minister Nouri Maliki said Iraq needed an anti-corruption campaign to match the fight against insurgents.
Until very recently, the two brothers of the trade minister worked as his aides. But they vanished in late April as they were about to be arrested.
When Iraqi forces went to the ministry to deliver warrants for their arrest, they were greeted by gunshots fired into the air by the ministry’s own guards.
The two brothers in the meantime escaped through the back gate.
Embezzlement accusation
The police say they have now arrested one of the brothers, who they believe was trying to flee the country, and that they are still looking for nine other senior trade ministry officials.
All of them are accused of embezzlement and corruption.
The trade ministry is in charge of Iraq’s massive food rationing programme and millions of dollars worth of grain imports.
Iraq’s anti-corruption agency says these programmes have been marred by fraud. The trade minister denies the allegations.
Prime Minister Maliki says corruption is one of the country’s biggest problems and that it has to be confronted.
But the prime minister’s critics question whether his own office is free of fraud and bribery.
Fighting corruption in Iraq is not just difficult, it can be dangerous: the country’s last anti-corruption boss had to flee Iraq.
Posted in Uncategorized May 13, 2009
What Intouch knows about the Middle East
- Source of oil
- Has many resources (oil, land)
- Large landmasses
- Consists of countries such as: Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Turkey
What Intouch assumes:
- Culture is mainly centered around religion
- A lot of religious extremist
What I want to learn:
- Culture
- Conflicts between countries in the Middle East
- Civil War
- Ongoing Issues
- Issues from the past (History)
- Current Events
- Religion
- People
What Kevin Lim knows about Middle East
- There are lots of oil in M.E.
- Israel and Lebanon are in war.
- I know how to say i missed a bus in Hebrew. “Fis fasti et ha autobus”
What Kevin Lim assume about Middle East
- A lot of desert
- Dangerous
- Rich
- Religious
What Kevin Lim wants to know about Middle East
- I want to know more about Jewish culture.
- I want to know the deeper reason of wars going on in Middle East.
- I want to know about wars based on oils in Middle East.
Posted in Uncategorized April 28, 2009
The pictures keep coming. The blood-spattered young faces, the glazed eyes, the limp small bodies.
The latest figures from Palestinian health officials say 205 children are among some 600 people who have died in the Gaza war. In the chaos, there are no statistics for how many are among the at least 2,900 injured.
As medics work flat out to save as many young lives as they can, child psychiatrists in both Gaza and southern Israel fear some children will never recover from the psychological damage done as the bombs, shells and rockets fall.
Long-term impact
He talks of a boy he treated five years ago. Grappling in the dark after his house was hit in an air strike on a Hamas militant next door, he felt something wet.
“He realised it was the flesh of his sister who was blown into pieces. He was in such a state. He couldn’t eat or smell meat for three years after that. I am sure he will suffer some kind of long-term psychological impact,” Dr Sarraj says.
He can barely leave his home for fear of the fighting, and has been unable to visit the hospitals where he has watched television pictures of traumatised, badly injured children arriving.
Our Thoughts
After reading this article and watching the video, I realized that a lot of kids are suffering from the Gaza war and getting hurt physically, mentally, and emotionally due to the war. I also realized that we are very lucky not to be in such condition and not having to deal with the long term impact that the war may bring. I feel sorry for kids for having to suffer the war and having to deal with the long term impacts.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/7816709.stm
Posted in Uncategorized April 26, 2009
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Posted in Uncategorized April 22, 2009
